When Ronnie Harrisson from Mitchells Plain was recently awarded the provincial arts and culture award at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, it was a great honour. It was also ironic, as it was the same National Party government that tortured him over his Black Christ painting 40 years ago, which made the award.
The painting depicts Dr Hendrik Verwoerd, John Vorster, a coloured Maria and an Asian St John standing by the black Christ’s side. Chief Albert Luthuli is the black Christ. When asked why he had chosen Luthuli to be Christ, Harrisson xplained that Luthuli had at that time just won the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Harrison, Luthuli was also one of the rare freedom fighters that really stood out. “He had these wonderful features.
“What also encouraged me to do the painting was that black people were crucified owing to the colour of their skin at that time.
“Everyone was expressing their dismay with apartheid in the form of literature, but I decided that a picture would tell a thousand words. I was also influenced by great men such as Dr Marthin Luther King, Robert Sobukwe, Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada. I wanted to instil in people, that it doesn’t mean because you are black, that you are going to be deprived of God’s Kingdom,” he said.
In 1962 the painting was put on exhibition at the St Luke’s Church in Cape Town. Somehow the press found out about it and Harrisson was afterwards arrested by the police, who subsequently removed the painting, which was later banned by the South African Censor Board.
“The government of that time said that my painting was offensive to religious convictions, which included a section of the public. They were, of course, referring to Afrikaners.
“My response to them was that because Christians were responsible for the death of Christ, Verwoerd and Vorster are, in fact, representing mankind.
“Soon after my first detention an American television crew made a documentary that later appeared on CBS television. This angered the government and I was once again detained.
“Following this I was contacted by an underground movement who wanted to send my painting to Brittain. With the help of the Danish government and the Swedish embassy my painting was flown to Johannesburg and later to Britain.
“It was then put on exhibition in Europe. Millions of rands were made through the painting, all of which went to the Rivonia Trial victims.
“When the police found out that the painting was in Britain all hell broke loose. This was followed by eight years of constant interrogation. During this time I was offered various scholarships but, owing to the fact that I was closely watched by the police, I could not go. I could get an exit permit, but I was not prepared to leave my family behind.
“Some time later I was contacted and told that there was someone who wanted to meet me. At that time I was staying in Salt River where they picked me up. We drove for several hours and eventually stopped in Durban, where I met Luthuli in a dimly lit room. It was the greatest moment of my life. Off all the heartache that I had to endure through the years this encounter made up for everything. He told me to be brave and that I had great courage to do what I did and that I should prepare myself for the consequences. But one thing that I will never forget is his striking features. He had a pair of grey eyes that you can’t forget easily.
“He also had this aura that he carried with him. He was really a remarkable man. I was only 22 years old back then,” Harrisson said.
In 1996 Harrisson decided to search for his painting. It was later found in a basement in London. In 1998, on Heritage Day, he was united with it.