Notes

“Worker with smuggled diamonds. From 1885 black workers at Kimberley were isolated in closed compounds, and after having served their contracts were kept in confinement, naked and with their hands encased in leather mittens, until they had excreted any diamonds they might have swallowed.” ( Stevenson 2002:11)

During his artist’s residency at Luvey ‘n Rose in 2013, Johannes Phokela encountered a copy of Stevenson’s book and a photograph of a miner which was used as a reference image for the present lot.

Stevenson, M. (2002) Art & Aspirations: The Randlords of South Africa and Their Collections. Vlaeberg: Fernwood Press: 10-11.