Cape Town - The emotion of a mother’s love for her son is captured in a painting in which Marlene le Roux, chief executive of Artscape, holds her late son, Adam George, who suffered from cerebral palsy.
Adam died in August last year, at the age of 15.
The mixed media painting by Manfred Zylla was unveiled in Groote Schuur Hospital’s general surgery department during an awards ceremony on Friday. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was in attendance.
The event honoured and recognised exceptional contributions and achievements made within the surgery division and the occasion was marked by the unveiling of the triptych, titled Pietà.
Le Roux said: “After travelling to countries like Cuba for exhibitions, the Pietà has finally come to rest. The memory of Adam has now found a home. It is an honour for me to lend this painting to the department of surgery.
“Manfred loved Adam, and throughout the years he maintained a friendship with Adam and I, expressing his love for us also through his art. Doctor Jacob Meiring wrote about the painting on his website and called it A pietà of love.”
Le Roux said Meiring referred to the painting as the suffering of pain and the experience of it as an incomplete narrative of a person’s life.
“Adam was my angel. He lived a purposeful life, a life of peace and healing and all this without uttering a word. He had a way of connecting with people when he was in a room; his spirit was clearly felt.
“He taught us a few important life lessons, like humility. He taught us that worldly possessions mean nothing. Let’s celebrate this angel’s life, who was given to us to understand who we are as human beings.”
@IAmAthinaMay