Grief No. 1

CCAC #: 0021a
Artwork title: Grief No. 1
Artist(s): Regi Bardavid
Year made: 1990
Artwork type: Paper
Medium: Conté and charcoal on paper
Framed dimensions (in mm): 2303 x 1074 x 50
Artwork series: Grief
Source: Donated by artist
Installation type: Movable artwork
Current location: On private display
Signage:

Grief No. 1 shows a dark, recumbent figure that is difficult to fully identify. The body appears partly human and partly skeletal, with the face obscured in deep shadow.

The figure lies against a heavy black background, which adds to the sense of isolation and emotional weight. The drawing suggests loss, vulnerability, and the impact of violence on the human body and identity.

Through charcoal and conté, the artist uses strong contrast and dense shading to express grief as both a physical and emotional experience.

Themes: State violence
Collective memory of apartheid-era trauma
Fragility of Democracy
Constitutional links: Equality - constitutional value (section 1a, section 9)
Human dignity - constitutional value (section 1a, section 10)
Freedom and security of the person (section 12)
Related constitutional cases: Carmichele v Minister of Safety and Security (2001)

CCAC 433084

Photographer: Ben Law-Viljoen
Photo copyright: CCT

Does this listing contain information that you think we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

NOTE: The process of photographing artworks in the CCAC is underway - we are currently working to improve image quality and display on the CMS but have included internal reference photos for identification purposes in the interim.