The Horrors I've Seen - the Congo
by Esther Newman-Cohen
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Price
$349
Dimensions
18.750 x 14.000 x 0.030 inches
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Title
The Horrors I've Seen - the Congo
Artist
Esther Newman-Cohen
Medium
Painting - Watercolor On Paper
Description
A vast country with immense economic resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has been at the center of what some call "Africa's world war." This has left it in the grip of a humanitarian crisis. The five-year conflict pitted government forces, supported by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, against rebels backed by Uganda and Rwanda.
Margot Wallstrom, the UN's special representative on sexual violence in conflict recently said the Democratic Republic of Congo was the "rape capital of the world".
A host of different armed groups roam parts of eastern DR Congo and all are accused of horrific violence against women.
During the conflict women were forced to choose: ''The rebel leader asked me two things: 'Do you want us to be your husbands? Or do you want us to rape you?'"Congolese mother-of-eight Clementine speaks in a quiet and hesitant voice:"I chose to be raped." She explains: "I told myself, if I tell them that I want to be their wife, they will kill my husband. I didn't want my children growing up saying the one that made our father die is our mother." The husbands also suffer. Every time they see this woman, they see someone they were not able to protect .
Jocelyn Kelly
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative For more information read
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8677637.stm
But that sacrifice was not enough. Her husband left her for another woman.
"After they raped me, my husband hated me. He said I was dirty. I often ask myself: 'Surely, I gave up my dignity for him, how come he can abandon me this way?'"
Margot Wallstrom, the UN's special representative on sexual violence in conflict recently said the Democratic Republic of Congo was the "rape capital of the world".
Despite a peace deal and the formation of a transitional government in 2003, people in the east of the country remain in terror of marauding militias and the army.
The war claimed an estimated three million lives, either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition. It has been called possibly the worst emergency to unfold in Africa in recent decades.
This is a signed original work by Esther Newman Cohen, painted in Watercolor on cold-pressed 300 Gsm watercolor Paper.
Uploaded
February 12th, 2014
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Comments (18)
Esther Newman-Cohen
Thanks so much, Ed, for featuring this work in the The Art of Controversy Group!
Esther Newman-Cohen
Thank you, Sora. Yes, I will join the group. Even though art is silent it can shout loud!
Sora Neva
Very expressive, and I think the subject is universal! Please consider joining a new awareness group I created: http://fineartamerica.com/groups/mutamea--my-change.html (or search groups for Mutamea).
Esther Newman-Cohen
Thanks so much, M and L Creations, for featuring this work in the Artistic Innovations Group!
Esther Newman-Cohen
Thanks so much, Pam, for featuring this work in the Motherhood and Children Group!
Esther Newman-Cohen
Thanks so much, Sandra, for featuring this work in the Memories and Nostalgia Group!
Esther Newman-Cohen
Thanks Lesa for your thoughtful comment. I used to teach about Human Rights in Times of Armed Conflict and these horrors touched me deeply. My painting Rwanda Rage is also base on a similar theme.
Lesa Weller
This is a difficult painting to ponder, Esther. This person who is both ravaged and strong is an amazing portrait of terror. What an emotional representation of what is going on in a very confusing and painful society at the time. l/f