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Seeing through the eyes of another - past, present, future. This portrait painting is of my grandfather, Dirk Verbeek, seen through the eyes of his son - my father, Johan Verbeek. My grandfather worled hard, rising through the eyes of the South African Military. Eventually he became Lieutenant General - a very prestigious rank. While serving his country he earned several medals. Although this is an achievement to be proud of, my grandfather was not around much while my father and his six siblings were growing up. The past is conveyed through the Black and White portrait of my grandfather in his uniform, when he was younger. My grandfather retired many years ago and is still living in South Africa. The New Zealand government has refused him entry into New Zealand because of his work and ranking in the military - he cannot even come for a visiti. The coloured portrait is of him in the present, as an old, sick man (he just had cancer), unable to visit five of his children and ten of his grandchildren who now live in New Zealand. Since he cannot come to New Zealand, he is covered by the image of his past career and younger self still in the military, however, underneath he is just an old man longing to visit and missing his family. There are intentional blank segments in the bottom corners which represent the future. As time goes on, my grandfather becomes older, and weaker; his health is always going to be an uncertainty. The future is blank as my father doesn't know if my grandfather will ever be able to come to New Zealand and every time he goes to visit him in South Africa it might be the last time.

Canvas: 30cm x 30cm