Patrick Seruwu

2020

Born in Uganda and based in Johannesburg, the artworks of Patrick Seruwu are not for the faint hearted.
One can always debate and argue about the role and treatment of women over different eras of millennia and the development of women’s rights and better living and working conditions afforded to them. This era like all the others poses similar and different challenges for women and all these challenges are usually captured by artists of many mediums and practices. The portrayal of women in various artworks is usually of a naked/semi naked type catering for a male gaze where the female form is usually sexualised. And if not the women are depicted representing strife, destitution and indigence, the images will often feature women carrying heavy things, many children, working hard, struggling to survive.
The works of Seruwu however gather as a poetic representation of this strife, Observing women in their everyday lives which not only harbour challenges, Seruwu focuses on capturing and depicting the quiet moments of silence. The moments a women would be alone in great contemplation where he carefully demonstrates vulnerability and tenderness.
Although sombre, the works have a sense of optimism to them, a softness, attaining some form of acknowledgement but also attempt at monumentalizing women and their strength. His style of painting in washes represents the tears women share on their own with no one watching while his dark palette nuances pain, disappointment, survival of traumatic experiences. Some of the works further advocate for change with artworks like “End of silence” (artwork 3) they seem to encourage a stand as the gazes of the subjects are confrontational, and other works simply portray innocence and youth. There is also a use of warm brown and pink tones in some of the artworks which inspire hope, tenderness, and in their own way highlight the resilience of womanhood.
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