Page 163 - Bulletin 13 2009

160

-speaking this was an unusual ‘honour’ and it is hard to imagine him fitting in with the
‘grey’ men who controlled radio and TV on behalf of the Government at this time.

“Dolphin”, Cedryl Greenland, his first art teacher at Wynberg Boys School had the
following to say in the Echo of 17 September 1983:

Eduard Ladan has stood up for his ideals and convictions for many years now –
often in the face of criticism from more stereotyped artists.
Not once has he created anything but by the dictates of his own original talents. And
at last he has been recognized for his own worth – both as an avant garde artist and as an
outspoken critic.
Art to Eduard is something more than a pretty picture. It is also a form of self-
expression; and his background of study and achievement, both in Art and Sculpture
(Academy of Fine Art, The Hague in Holland; Exhibitions in South Africa and abroad) has
brought him great pleasure and satisfaction, while for some years he was also Art Critic for
the Cape Times and Argus.
Now his latest appointment to the Radio and TV Advisory Boards has culminated a
life-time of dedication to his greatest interest in life.

At some stage during the 80s he met “Zorba”, Anthony Quinn, who was holidaying in the
Kalk Bay area. Quinn’s hobby was sculpture and he stated that he found great inspiration in

the weather-sculpted rocks that had been gathered and placed in Schoonzicht’s garden over
the years. Naturally, Eddie had to be photographed with Quinn and the picture somehow

found its way into the local press. (Fig. 3.47).

He made the headlines in 1985 when he commented on the state of South Africa, during the

time of unrest, in the form of a collage entitled “South Africa Nineteen Eighty-Five”. It
comprised an ordinary brown paper bag spiked with nails in black, red and a small

collection of white. Beneath the packet is a pool of red ‘blood’ in the shape of Africa. It

was mounted and suspended in perspex to create an effect of isolation. He entered it in a
Durban exhibition that had paper as its theme. He was in the news in 1986 when his death

notice appeared in the press. This was in some way related to his on-going spat with the