The hand that touched the world

by Helen Bamford

Cape Argus

June 08 2008 at 01:27PM

A unique bronze cast of Nelson Mandela's right hand will be auctioned at an event in London to mark the former president's 90th birthday.¬?Created by artist Paul du Toit, the life-like hand shows every crevice and line of what Madiba calls his "boxing hand".¬?Du Toit, a self-taught artist who has exhibited all over the world, recalls how terrified he was on having to plunge Mandela's hand into a bucket of dental silicone for the original impression.He had experimented the day before with his own hand as there is plenty that can go wrong.

'It had to do with touch¬?

to reflect the way¬?

he has touched the world'

"It sets so quickly. While you are working it changes colour so you know when you have just seconds before it sets."¬?The silicone also starts shrinking within 48 hours so Du Toit had to get it quickly from Johannesburg to his studio in Hout Bay in order to continue the process.¬?Du Toit last year created Mandela's hand print in black paint. It was later auctioned to a collector in Devon, England.¬?Du Toit said he wanted the image to reflect touch. "It had to do with touch to reflect the way he has touched the world.¬?"My immediate thought was the cave paintings and how people had transferred their handprints using red ochre."¬?It involved Du Toit painting directly onto Mandela's hand using an acrylic so it would come off easily.¬?Du Toit said he was so nervous he was shaking.¬?"But Madiba puts everyone at ease. He is so relaxed with people and he is still so sharp and quick."¬?The bronze hand will be auctioned at a dinner attended by the likes of former US president Bill Clinton, British prime minister Gordon Brown, and actors such as Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey, Robert de Niro and Forest Whitaker.

A 46664 concert featuring artists such as Queen, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds and The Corrs is planned for London's Hyde Park on June 27.

This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Argus on June 08, 2008