A Diamond is Forever 2021 Relief print with Silkscreen on Fabriano Artistico, hot pressed, 300 gsm (Published by South Atlantic Press) 67 x 126 cm

Cecil John Rhodes was a sickly child who was sent to South Africa in the hope that the climate there would improve his heath. Not only did his health improve but he went on to become fabulously rich from the diamonds in Kimberley. The company he founded, De Beers created a monopoly on diamonds that lasted from 1888 until the start of the 21^st century. With this wealth Rhodes went on to annex Zimbabwe (it was named Rhodesia in his honour) and dreamt of colonizing Africa from the Cape to Cairo. De Beers famously created the market for diamond engagement rings using the tagline ‘a diamond is forever’.