Richard Mudariki (b 1985)
Mail - 2016
Oil on canvas
40 x 40 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
This painting comments on the now old fashioned art of letter
writing. In the fast paced world of today, we communicate via
text messages, whatsapp, email or the telephone, and very few
people have the time or inclination to correspond in writing. In
my teens l enjoyed writing letters to friends, pen pals and, more
importantly, to my art mentors. I equally enjoyed opening the
mail box and pulling out a handwritten letter addressed to me
personally. I believe something magical and powerful is captured,
and communicated, when reading someone’s thoughts and ideas
in his or her own handwriting. Artists, like Gerard Sekoto, have
often written letters that later became important documents in
allowing us to understand their lives and work. I believe that while
modern technology makes communication instant and convenient,
its impact is usually of a temporary and fleeting nature when
compared to the personal touch of a handwritten letter.