Popular artist Rasta – real name Lebani Sirenje – has been using his time during lockdown the only way he knows how.
He’s best known for painting portraits of famous faces at their funerals to honour their contributions to society. But during the national 21-day lockdown, Rasta has been painting in his Hillbrow, Johannesburg, flat, pouring his heart into his art and letting his creative juices flow.
Read more: Fans not impressed with Rasta’s Arnold Schwarzenegger painting
But this time, he’s paying tribute to political leaders at the forefront of making key decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In these 21 days of lockdown, I will be painting faces of ministers. As an artist, this is my way of creating awareness to what is currently happening,” Rasta tells Move!.
Since last Friday, he has painted five faces of ministers who are always in the news, giving feedback to the public in an effort to fight the virus.
“I am not done yet. I will be drawing throughout the 21 days. This is not a time to laugh at the art but a time to appreciate it,” he adds.
Rasta has shared the images he’s drawn in the past six days. Here they are:
Minister of defence and military veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Minister of police Bheki Cele
