A forewarning

Last week, in a statement issued through his legal representative, Bally Chuene, Mandela aimed to “disassociate” himself from the Belgravia exhibit – again.

“It is important to tell the public that they are being deceived,” said Chuene.

Genuine works from these series should bear two signatures—one reproduced, since the images themselves are reproductions, and one original, scrawled in pencil, to authenticate each piece.

There are many pieces of art fitting that description— bearing two Mandela signatures— but Mr. Mandela claims that they are not all his.

In 2005, he successfully sued Ismail Ayob, his lawyer at the time, and Ross Calder, another key figure in the art project. Mandela alleged that there was no proof that the money raised from the sale of the lithographs had gone to the agreed charities. He also accused the two of producing unauthorized prints bearing forged signatures.

Although Mandela won an injunction to prohibit Ayob and Calder from continuing to publish, sell or distribute the art, he has not been as successful in preventing others – including the Belgravia Gallery – from cashing in on his name with artwork that he claims is forged.

A year ago, the Belgravia gallery hosted Nelson Mandela at 90. As is the case this year, Mandela requested via his lawyers that the gallery desist from exploiting him and deceiving the public. Thereafter, he denounced the exhibit and disassociated himself from it.

Now, Mr. Chuene is once again declaring, “He did not sign those artworks.”

Insists authenticity

Belgravia admits that they have also been engaged in legal disputes regarding allegations that the funds from Mandela artwork were not given to nominated charities. However, they insist that the lithographs in their possession are authentic.

Managing director Anna Hunter even claims that she and her daughter Laura witnessed Mandela signing a substantial number of the lithographs in his home.

In an e-brochure, she attempts to breathe life into these claims with an in-depth account of what happened that day. She writes, “On 9th December 2002, he signed around 400 lithographs from the first series in one morning, whilst sitting at his dining table…We sharpened his pencils and placed the unsigned lithographs in front of him to sign, then moved each into a signed box of lithographs.”

Expert confirms imitations

A forensic specialist, who, due to confidentiality must remain unnamed, told RT that she was hired to analyze the authenticity of certain Mandela art for another gallery. She confirms that her investigation found many works decorated with perfect Mandela signatures.

“And that’s the problem. They are far too perfect,” she says. “The signatures were the same one after another after another, which just does not happen in real life.”

When Mandela signed the authentic lithographs he was 84-years-old. A video on the Belgravia website shows him performing the task with a neck brace— making it even more outrageous to believe that he repeatedly wrote his name perfectly.

The forensic specialist believes that a ghost writer was used. This is the sort of machine used for people such as Presidents whose signatures are needed in mass quantities.

A “mechanical isolation error” on one of the prints, adds to the expert’s conviction that a device was used to forge Mandela’s name. “It was as if a machine was being used but then a table was bumped. There was one that didn’t match the others,” she said.

Nelson Mandela indeed produced artwork and signed it. With regards to what is currently held by Belgravia, the forensic specialist says “those that they have may be genuine pieces.

“But there are definitely fakes out there,” she warns.

Michelle Smith for RT