Here four colonial soldiers guard a Mau Mau suspect. In honour of the tens of thousands who died, shot as terrorists, tortured and martyred, I have given him a halo. Not to sanctify his victim status, but to express dismay at the horror inflicted. This has left a legacy that has found expression in a court case in which two (originally three) men and one woman and their families won compensation from British courts, following a decision in 2012. The British Foreign Minister did not accept responsibility for the torture and atrocities. He did however apologise to the victims for what the British had done, or ordered done.
This photo seems to point to the possibility of friendship between a colonial and a colonised soldier. It seems the photo is taken in Kenya. I say this because of the way the Kenyan soldier looks more in his element than the Brit, who is uncharacteristically deferent. They may be fighting the Mau Mau 'terrorists' side by side.
In 2013-14 I plan a whole series of paintings and collages around the theme of the Mau Mau, especially in light of the recent court case. More on that later on this blog...
Here on the right, the first elected Prime Minister of Congo Kinshasa, Patrice Lumumba waits, resignation in his face and a bit of fear too, to be killed. He is guarded by soldiers whose faces are an emotional blank. Damaged Goods, says the text, refers to all that is broken and undone. Undone by the soldiers. Soldiers under orders from the Congolese authorities. Congolese authorities responding to demands from the Belgians, British and US authorities for Patrice Lumumba's death. It is to be a punishment for daring to speak in front of the King, and for his general 'insubordination' to the West. Lumumba was no saint. He was not a sinner either.
Empire is not only outside in the wider world, but right here in Europe.
Here the Greek police look like aliens at a convention. They appear oblivious of the saint-like figure of the protestor, hands in supplication, on the ground. Empire is secured, and the violence is mostly latent and systemic.