The Art of War - Painting in the Age of Conflict.

by Richard Mudariki

1 , 2 , 1 , 2 , 1 , 2 (2024), oil on canvas, 50 x 40cm

As a citizen of the world and a contemporary visual artist, I am deeply moved by the tumultuous events shaping our time. As a visual narrator, I have captured the essence of contemporary conflicts in a body of work that culminated in my 9th solo exhibition, My Reality, shown in Cape Town in 2024. This exhibition delves into the multifaceted nature of warfare, drawing inspiration from historical masterpieces and current global crises to reflect on humanity's enduring struggle with violence and the pursuit of peace.

As we enter 2025, the world remains embroiled in conflicts that shape geopolitics and devastate lives. The Democratic Republic of Congo has once again become the epicenter of a regional crisis with the Goma Offensive, an escalation of the long-running conflict in eastern Congo. Renewed clashes between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group have led to mass displacement and suffering, further complicating what has been termed Africa’s World War. This tragedy is not isolated but part of a larger pattern of warfare across the world—from the ongoing battles in Ukraine to the relentless airstrikes and destruction in Palestine, the enduring instability in Sudan.

Beyond physical warfare, we also witness wars of a different kind. Economic superpowers are engaged in trade wars, deploying sanctions and tariffs as weapons to exert dominance. The battle over information and misinformation has given rise to a war on truth, where propaganda and deepfakes threaten our understanding of reality. Even within societies, like in Cape Town where l live, we speak of gang wars, where gangs create rifts as deep as battle lines.

Tsepo Tshola sings STOP THE WAR, (2024), oil on canvas, 40 x 40 cm

Recently, while rearranging my studio storage space, my artwork Tsepo Tshola Sings Stop The War caught my attention. This significant piece is both a tribute to the late South African music legend Tsepo Tshola and a visual plea to end all wars (watch him perfom this song live on Youtube). The painting captures the powerful moment of his performance of Stop the War from Sankomota's 2009 album. In a world where conflicts continue to erupt, the message of this song has never been more urgent. Tshola's commanding yet soulful presence in the painting delivers a plea for peace that resonates deeply with today's global struggles. The artwork reflects not only the enduring power of his voice but also the timeless relevance of his message. His performance becomes a symbol of resistance against violence and a call to unite in the pursuit of peace.

The central piece in my 2024 solo exhibition was Hondo (Shona for War), a reinterpretation of Picasso's iconic Guernica. Picasso’s masterpiece, created in response to the 1937 bombing of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War, stands as a monumental anti-war symbol. Its haunting imagery—a tableau of anguish with intermingled human and animal forms—serves as a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war. In my work, Hondo, I transpose this narrative to the modern-day bombings in Palestine, capturing the chaos and suffering inflicted. The monochromatic palette and fragmented composition pay homage to Picasso's style while integrating contemporary elements to highlight the ongoing nature of such atrocities. The artwork is a fusion of influences, drawing from Picasso, South African artist Stanley Pinker, and Roy Lichtenstein’s pop art. The use of disordered canvases symbolizes the destruction wrought by bombs, while fragments of missiles scattered across the gallery floor immerse viewers in the artwork’s commentary on violence. Visitors are invited to leave messages of hope on a large missile bomb facing the painting, adding an interactive and reflective dimension to the work.

Hondo (War) (2024), Oil on canvas,356 x 120cm ( all five panels)

Hondo starkly portrays the devastation of modern conflict, from a mother’s anguished scream over her dead child to lifeless bodies being dragged from the rubble. I reinterpret the infamous Whaam! sound from Lichtenstein’s comic-style art, blending it with the visceral realities of missile strikes in Ukraine and Palestine. Through these layered references, I aim to connect past and present conflicts, underscoring the cyclical nature of human suffering.

The piece 1,2,1,2 captures the relentless, rhythmic march of soldiers heading into battle. The synchronized movements of the soldiers in the painting mirror the disciplined precision of military parades, where each step resonates with the weight of history and the burden of the present. Rebels and mercenaries are marching into Goma, and the conflict has already claimed many lives. South Africa recently lost 13 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leading to an exchange of words between the presidents of Rwanda and South Africa.

7 October (2024),oil on canvas, 40 x 40 cm (in Private Collection)

In 7 October, I present a haunting reimagining of Francisco Goya’s The 3rd of May 1808, capturing the tragic events of October 7, 2023. Echoing Goya’s portrayal of human suffering, I draw a stark parallel between historical atrocities and modern violence. This painting, now part of a major Jewish art collection, urges us to recognize that history repeats itself, and the human toll of conflict remains painfully consistent. 7 October stands as both a memorial and a potent reminder of our collective responsibility to break the cycle of violence.

For me, painting has a unique ability to serve as a historical document, capturing and preserving the experiences and perspectives of individuals, communities, and societies as a whole. Many who study art in relation to historical context recognize that it provides valuable insights into the past, shedding light on the values and beliefs of a particular time and place. It is through the interconnections of history and art that we can understand the human experience.

Throughout history, many civilizations have recorded their history through various forms of art, including paintings, sculptures, architecture, and other visual media. These artistic works serve as a testament to world events in the 21st Century. I hope this body of work will serve a historical purpose in the years to come.