Streaks of colour drip down the canvas as the image of a woman begins to take shape. Patrick Seruwu alternates between slathers and dabs of acrylic paint. Despite the delicate details, his portraits are emotionally-charged and rooted in a heavy reality. Representative of women who’ve been abused and fear speaking out, the artworks convey their trauma. “Their stories should be heard and accounted for,” Seruwu says.
Before the Ugandan-born, Johannesburg-based contemporary artist began painting, he used to braid women’s hair for a living. This, combined with his upbringing alongside three sisters and a single mother, influenced Seruwu thematically. “I want to acknowledge the strength that women have and capture their moments,” he says. To fairly depict their experiences, he bases his paintings on conversations where women dictate their own stories. One of the questions Seruwu often asks, “Are you safe at home?” reveals an unfortunate reality – many women aren’t.
“I fear that society is becoming desensitised to the challenges that women face on a daily basis,” Seruwu says. His multimedia works serve as a powerful statement. Though he’s only been painting for two years, Seruwu’s pieces have exhibited at the Turbine Art Fair and the ABSA Gallery in Johannesburg. With his art, he’s furthering the conversation on gender-based violence, reminding people of women’s struggles, and celebrating their resilience. “My work is a symbol of strength,” Seruwu says.
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