Fantasize—Go All The Way 1986–1989

Fantasize—Go All The Way 1986–1989

Oil and oil pastel on canvas H150 x W94 cm

Permanent Collection: Apartheid Museum. Johannesburg, South Africa

“Fantasize” promoted Fanta Cola (originally developed for Nazi Germany’s consumption by the Coca Cola Company) and “Go All the Way”, which was directed at home grown rugby-playing Lion Beer consumers, were both 1980’s South African advertisements.

In a dystopian irony these roadside billboards were marketed at the occupying white police and army who patrolled Soweto, committing atrocities during the Apartheid era. Their placement blocked-out the raging conflagration beyond, in the blacks-only residential zone.

Underpinning the painting’s narrative is an abstracted fiery core – a bleeding subcutaneous tangled morass.

The surface has an age-related craquelure. A tear in the lower right has been visibly stitched-up by the artist – intended as an appropriate metaphor for a society whose fabric has been painfully sundered, and crudely sutured back together.

ps.  Segregated Beer consumption & sports appreciation in Apartheid South Africa.

While not always applicable as a rule, Black people largely supported Soccer and the Carling Black Label brand was targeted at them, while Lion Beer was mostly consumed by White Afrikaners whose sport of choice was Rugby. in contrast to both of these, White English speakers generally preferred Castle Beer and (often) Cricket.

Ironically all three beers were produced by the same (predominant) South African Brewery (SAB) Company who understood and promoted this ‘apparent’ need for racial and sport diversity and successfully provided for and exploited this in their variety of beer on offer.