Unfinished portrait of Oscar Pistorius on display in London

The fallen star is depicted in a harrowing, half-finished painting
Unfinished: artist Natalie Holland couldn’t bring herself to complete the portrait
Ben Norum25 June 2015

An unfinished portrait of Oscar Pistorius will go on display in London for the first time this week.

The painting, by artist Natalie Holland, was set to be the third in a series celebrating the South African sportsman’s achievements over disability and was commissioned for the South African Ministry of Sport.

But it wasn’t to be. Holland heard the news of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp while painting his face and immediately stopped.

She recalls dropping her paintbrush in shock while listening to the story unfold and couldn’t bring herself to complete the portrait. She locked the unfinished piece away and named the painting 'The Interrupted Portrait of Oscar Pistorius’.

She said: “It simply wasn't the same story anymore. When you start painting someone who's a hero, someone that has achieved extraordinary things – being born without legs and running the olympics, I mean, it's quite an achievement. But we've ended up with a story whereby the 'hero' goes ahead and kills someone…so it is not the same. The painting looks different to me now.”

The painting will be on display at Zebra One Gallery in Hampstead from Friday (June 24).

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