This work refers, through its title, to a message sent from mother to son in a popular radio program for South African troops: "This message comes from your mother, with Casspirs full of love." Casspirs are armored military vehicles; their name is an anagram of the abbreviations CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) and SAP (South African Police), the organizations that developed them. These vehicles, designed for international military operations, were deployed against black township communities in South Africa during states of emergency imposed by the apartheid government.

Gallery label from

Impressions from South Africa, 1965 to Now, March 23–August 14, 2011 .

Gallery label from William Kentridge: Five Themes , February 24–May 17, 2010.

This monumental drypoint refers, through its title, to a message sent from mother to son in a popular radio program for South African troops: "This message comes from your mother, with Casspirs full of love." Casspirs are armored personnel carriers; their name is an anagram of the abbreviations CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) and SAP (South African Police), the organizations that developed them. These vehicles, designed for international military operations, were deployed against South African civilians during apartheid .

Medium Drypoint and engraving with roulette
Dimensions plate: 58 9/16 x 32" (148.8 x 81.3 cm); sheet: 65 3/8 x 38 7/16" (166 x 97.6 cm)
Publisher William Kentridge, Johannesburg, in conjunction withDavid Krut Fine Art, London
Printer 107 Workshop, Melksham, England
Edition 30 (17 printed 1989; 13 printed 2000)
Credit Marnie Pillsbury Fund and Roxanne H. Frank Fund
Object number 1045.2007
Department Drawings and Prints

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