Article: Rudy Rahmé and Nelson Mandela

(Rudy was selected in 2005 as the only artist from the Middle East among 40 international artists to continue the work on Nelson Mandela’s 6 Paintings that will be exhibited all over the world to support Mandela’s Foundation.)

Through his work, Rudy the artist has introduced five artistic eras: classicism, impressionism, surrealism, modernism and symbolism.
In each and every painting, the artist has prominently reflected Nelson’s work of art. This latter assumes his presence with reference to the respect of the white and the judiciously well-chosen place to suit its title.

Struggle: the striving fire

The work of art portrays willingness, energy, power, and strength. The artist has skillfully concretized the suffering of struggle through cinetic cyclones that overwhelm evil and clench its defeat. The folded fingers over the endured suffering while combating strongly juxtaposes with the open fingers welcoming joy and triumph.
The sacred tree, Lebanon’s emblem, is rooted in the heart of the canvas. It’s the millennium cedar that stands high and majestic in the mountain obstinately rooted and strongly willful. Anchored in the rock to defy time and the four elements, the tree becomes perennial.
Juxtaposed to the wood of the everlasting cedar, the fire that animates and consumes the heart of the resistant’s soul could never become extinct. Its roots give life to the arms and neck of the struggle through his veins and arteries.
ALL MEN are the products of its roots; roots that determine his origin, his identity and determine as such his commitment. Hence, it transmits to him vigor and energy to inspire his rebellion and help him become victorious.
Nelson Mandela’s cause is alluded to through the black hue of the tree bark. It covers man’s muscles like a skin and hairs his frizzy skull.
The echo of injustice reaching his ears, drive him to rebellion and combat with enthusiasm, willingness, and obstinance. With this judicious disposition of traits, the artist as such highlights the honest announcer of truth, who fights hard to deliver a message of belief and hope.

Imprisonment: The Tolling Bell of Truth

The prisoner is completely folded over himself.
Out of this solitary confinement a limitless opening is paradoxically born to overwhelm the whole of humanity.
The umbilical chord enter twines to bring forth the bond in the form of a bell or a lantern. The word imprisonment eliminates the bell reinforcing as such the cloistering sensation.
The brick wall that keeps it symbolizes an obsolete rigid universe, whose arcades open up to the sky, a Lebanese architectural typical element allowing with this an escape towards change.
Thou art a hermit, the prisoner withholds in his isolation and clashing raft a deep spiritual communion with the outer world and the other.
His head becomes the world for whom the imprisoned hermit has accepted to commit himself as a sacrifice. The nails evoke this made and offered sacrifice. It is the bell of truth that tells the truth of the good news in order to leave the lie and injustice. It is the light that spreads hope in a better society.

The infant whose eyes are astonished and perplexed overlooks the world with a worried thought aware of the tyrant system that grinds the weak souls. The political prisoner breaks the ice of indifference that surrounds him with his combat and opens a breach to the scrupulous notion of time.
He inspires the transcending figures through his fatigueless resistance. His huge strength and his courage cleave eternally the sterile laws that freeze all means of human fraternity and allow humanity to stand strong.
The timewave symbolizes the purchase of an imprisoned rightful heir who manages to save the world with regards to his fauvist ideas and willful dogma.

Freedom: The Shadow of Light

The serene and placid conscience of an innocent joy enlightens Nelson Mandela’s complexion with a call back reminiscing his painful past swept by a smile on his lips.
The fists break their chains emerging from the head and symbolizing the world of freedom that he harshly obtained for himself and his people.
It is the emanation and end of his profound aspiration and obstinate determination.
His iron will and mythical morals have annihilated the prison bars and made them as fragile as glass. 
A recluse completely retired from society, Nelson Mandela’s abnegation has immensely contributed to the radical change of the world in spite of his enforced isolation.
Mother Teresa’s figure reunites with that of Nelson Mandela incarnating as such the contrasting and allied representation of two benefactors to humanity; the former, living in the heart of the world, fights hard in the face of poverty and misery toiling the way to restore goodness.

The latter incorporating a rupture with the world to strive, through his solitude, against inequality and injustice making way for liberty.
The intense enlightening blue evokes Mother Teresa’s cobalt veil, reflecting with strength and harmony the transported soul of imprisonment that discovers with enchantment the ethereal air of liberty after a so long term of confinement in the cell.

Exhilarated by space and tinted with grey, Mandela is overwhelmed with striking hues of a radiant sky and a turquoise ocean. Never has he observed such paradisiac apparatus in a world definitely transfigured and filled with glistening perspectives and hope.