The Shield Paintings came out of a trip I made to Rorke’s Drift, during the time I was working as an assistant to the South African Artist Cameron Platter.
The Battle of Rorke’s Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. It is know as the successful British defence of the mission station of Rorke’s Drift, when a large contingent of Zulu warriors broke off from the main force during the final hour of the British defeat at the day-long Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879.
It is thought provoking and desolate place, and one that provoked a long train of thought in my mind. The Shield paintings are my resolution of some of these thoughts.
The colours are taken from Indigenous South African birds from the area, and the patterns are derived from Zulu Nineteenth Century shields. They are my attempt to make peace with what happened at that place.
