Crumple (Jeanette Schoon)

Conceived as an homage to the late anti-apartheid activist Jeanette Eva Schoon (née Curtis), this work commemorates the important yet often marginalised contributions of women to the historical struggle against apartheid and current day injustices. Schoon, who was active in labour union work, was killed in 1984, together with her six-year-old daughter, Katryn, by a parcel bomb while living in exile in Angola. Her three-year-old son, Fritz, was not hurt yet he witnessed the event. The bomb was targeted at her husband, Marius, who was also a banned anti-apartheid activist. Barry draws inspiration from crumpled paper and the crumple zones in cars, a safety feature to protect passengers by crumpling on impact. This artwork forms part of the Crumple series. Painted as much as it is sculpted, the proportions of the sculpture suggest both an explosion and an exuberant resurrection. It recalls an act of terrible violence, but also offers hope for repair and care. The artist calls it “a feminist symbol of hope and power in violent times”. The perpetrators were granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2000.