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Kniediepinnikak - A pit toilet brush

2018 Competition entry

Gerrit Hattingh

Details:
Signed
Whitestinkwood, steel and lavender scented polish
2m in height

Description:

Through this artwork, the artists comments on the two children (aged five) who died by falling into pit toilets in 2014 and 2018 respectively. The anthropomorphic, half human/rat-like figure wearing a tie comments on current South African issues like class division, politics, corruption and lack of service delivery and basic needs to the poor.

The rat-like figure is purposely made to represent a kind of children's book character. The blue toilet brush on the figure's head also looks like a halo and cynically mocks those who lead and govern. The steel toilet brush stand is created so that the long brush can be removed and be used to clean the pit toilet. The title "kniediepinnikak" is assembled from Afrikaans words which refer to large amounts of problems one may have.