Tutu portrait helps to fund right-to-die cause

10 October 2016 - 12:34 By DAVE CHAMBERS

An artist whose portrait of Desmond Tutu raised R100,000 for right-to-die campaign DignitySA, says her "mind is blown". Lioda Conrad, of Cape Town, said the painting was one of 16 she gave to DignitySA this year to raise funds for a case it expects to go to the Constitutional Court.The painting was sold on Friday to a buyer who asked to remain anonymous. The sale was sparked by Tutu's comments, on his 85th birthday, saying he wants to have a death of his own choosing.The money will help to fund the group when the ministers of justice and health and the National Prosecuting Authority appeal against the Pretoria High Court's ruling last year allowing terminally ill lawyer Robin Stransham-Ford to end his life.The case goes to the Supreme Court of Appeal on November 4.Conrad said it was the only portrait of Tutu that he signed. He signed the back of the painting, she said, then added a signature on the white of his clerical collar.She met Tutu two years ago. "I was having breakfast in central Cape Town when he came in with a group of people," said Conrad."I went and bought a bunch of flowers, and when most of the people had left I went over and gave them to him. Then we chatted and had coffee together."Conrad said that after she gave the painting to DignitySA, its head, Sean Davison, took it to Tutu to sign. "He loved it. He said: 'She's got my nose just right and that doesn't happen very often.'"He asked about the red lines through the painting."When Sean explained they symbolised the connectedness we have as human beings - that red is the colour we all share, and that it signifies the strength we all have as humans - he fell silent and was visibly moved."..

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