A profound artwork by the late South African artist Dumile Feni, titled African Guernica, is now featured as part of the new exhibition series ‘History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, But It Does Rhyme’. This significant piece is proudly displayed on the second floor of the Reina Sofía museum, occupying the very space where Pablo Picasso’s iconic Guernica first debuted 34 years ago upon its arrival in Madrid. Feni’s African Guernica, created in 1967, while lacking the immense physical scale of Picasso’s world-renowned masterpiece, certainly rivals its emotional intensity and impact. The drawing captivates viewers with its profound depth, raw fury, and unsettling juxtaposition of contrasting elements: man and beast, light and shadow, and the stark divide between innocence and inherent cruelty, rendering it equally disturbing and deeply thought-provoking.
African Guernica: Dumile Feni’s Powerful Work Displayed Alongside Picasso’s Masterpiece
By Rupert Blackwood
Investigative journalist based in Sheffield, focusing on technology's impact on society. Rupert specializes in cybercrime's effect on communities, from online fraud targeting elderly residents to cryptocurrency scams. His reporting examines social media manipulation, digital surveillance, and how criminal networks operate in cyberspace. With expertise in computer systems, he connects technical complexity with real-world consequences for ordinary people