Human rights and human wrongs: public perceptions of Diane Victor’s 'Disasters of Peace'

Abstract

Diane Victor’s print series, Disasters of Peace, pays homage to Goya’s revelations about war but addresses the violence of peace in post-apartheid South Africa. The delicate line and tone of her etching processes seduce the eye into a close reading of material that would normally be avoided, and which has shocked even lawyers who should investigate such cases. The works were withdrawn from display in the new building of the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria, and became the subject of a special issue of their journal. This paper investigates how Victor exposes the gap between human rights principles in a constitution recognised as the most advanced in the world, and the insidious underbelly of South Africa’s human abuses.

Diane Victor se print-reeks, The Disasters of Peace, bring hulde aan Goya se onthullings oor oorlog, maar fokus op die geweld van vrede in ‘n post-apartheid Suid-Afrika. Die delikate lyn en toon van haar ets prosesse mislei die oog in ‘n beslote lees van materiaal wat normaalweg vermy word, en wat skok selfs prokureurs wat sulke gevalle moet ondersoek. Die werk is onttrek uit die nuwe gebou van die Fakulteit Regsgeleerdheid by die Universiteit van Pretoria, en is die onderwerp van ‘n spesiale uitgawe van hul tydskrif. Hierdie artikel ondersoek hoe Victor ontbloot die gaping tussen die menslike regte in ‘n grondwet erken as die mees gevorderde in die wêreld, en die verraderlike onderbuik van Suid-Afrika se menslike misbruik