Mandela moves to block sale of prison drawings
Nelson Mandela has instructed his lawyers to take legal action against a London gallery which is selling lithographs it says are signed by, and the work of, the former South African president.
News agencies in South Africa last night quoted a statement issued by Mandela’s lawyers in which he publicly disassociated himself from an exhibition being held at the Belgravia gallery in Mayfair.
“Mr Mandela has given us instruction to take urgent, appropriate steps against Belgravia gallery to stop any marketing, distribution and selling of artwork associated with his name,” the statement added.
It remained unclear why Mandela dissociated himself from the artwork. His lawyers have previously expressed concerns that the proceeds of sales would not go to charity.
On Friday night, Anna Hunter, managing director of Belgravia gallery, said they had heard nothing formally.
Hunter said: “I am surprised because they are wonderful and historically interesting pieces of art. He has done very colourful images of a place that was so dark and grey.”
The lithographs are being sold as artworks Mandela undertook in 2001 and 2002, when he returned to his former jail. The drawings include the bars of his cell, the lighthouse, the church and harbour.
They were put up for sale three years ago, but withdrawn when Mandela began legal proceedings against his former lawyer, Ismail Ayob, amid claims that unauthorised prints were being marketed with false signatures, and that proceeds that had been due to go to homeless and Aids charities were not reaching their destination. That case appears to have stalled.
Prices for the lithographs at the Belgravia gallery range from £6 000 (R92 000) to £15 000.(R230 000). - guardian.co.uk
