Description: This wooden sculputure is hand crafted and painted depicting Nelson Mandela in his former days as a boxer.

Size: 17in x 5 in

Artist: Richard Chauke

Â?Â?About Phula Richard Chauke:

Born in Gandlanani Khani village, Giyani, 1979. he lives and works in Giyani. Major exhibitions: BMW Tributaries; Spier Contemporary 2007/08; Standard Bank Exhibition; Limpopo Group Exhibition, Polokwane; Absa L’Atelier, Sasol New Signatures.

Artist's Statement

My works are based on observations of life around me and my feelings about this life. So I notice the pride of the soccer players but I also notice people like President Zuma, Nelson Mandela, Mbeki and Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president travelling on the freeway to the World Cup. In Polokwane I continue to observe politicians in their different roles (seen in the busts which I created) or driving in their cars. I also observe people of religion such as Bishop Tutu and Emperor Selassie, who was a live god and whose hand reflects what the great culture of Rasta means in my sculpture. In the depictions of the Tsonga tribe who now stay in Limpopo, I show the presence of symbols that live on through time. Sculptures of women, a mother, a sangoma and a sister represent a circle of life that has been passed on for generations and endures.