Meet Ralph Ziman, the artist waging war with weapons against violence

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Meet Ralph Ziman, the artist waging war with weapons against violence  "When violence comes, you can turn brutal or choose another way," says Ralph Ziman. He chose art. His monumental installations of rifles, military vehicles and warplanes seek to heal, not harm.  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/11/21/meet-ralph-ziman-the-artist-waging-war-with-weapons-against-violence  Spark your senses, wake your wonder. Euronews Culture seeks to show creativity in action and inspire our audience to explore the world through the five senses. Start your journey through the best of Europe's arts, gastronomy, traditions and high-end craftsmanship.

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00:00South African-born artist Ralph Zeman has spent his life fighting violence, not with

00:05weapons but with art.

00:06His monumental installations reinterpret military symbols to transform them into tools for dialogue

00:11and reflection.

00:13Even as a young kid I was very much aware of the injustice.

00:16I was brought up by my parents but also very much by the African staff who worked at my

00:20house.

00:21To see the sheer brutality that the apartheid state brought down on black people to keep

00:25them in fear and suppressed really made an impression on me.

00:30Weapons of mass production is a three piece art project consisting of replicas of an AK-47

00:35assault rifle, a Casper armoured personal carrier and a MiG-21 fighter jet.

00:39Each of these objects was covered with millions of glass beads crafted by African artisans.

00:45It was seen as a low craft, it was done by black people under apartheid, it was something that

00:49was sold to tourists and perceived as having very little value.

00:52I wanted to take those skills and those talents and turn it into modern contemporary art.

00:58According to the artist, each part of the project symbolises a different dimension of

01:02violence.

01:03So the first was the AK-47, it dealt with gun violence, it dealt with the proliferation

01:08of weapons.

01:09The second in the series was the Casper.

01:12It was designed and built in South Africa in the 80s and then they sold them to repressive

01:16governments around the world.

01:18So thirdly, coming to the MiG-21 is the most mass-produced supersonic fighter jet of all

01:23time.

01:24Ziemann believes that physical proximity to an object of war transformed into an art piece

01:28is an act of reclaiming power over violence.

01:31Each beat, hand arranged by hundreds of artists, becomes a gesture of resistance against the militarisation

01:36of the world.

01:37The whole world is on a knife edge.

01:40I think it's good to have a counter-narrative to all of this.

01:43In a world that's increasingly dangerous, I think these are things we should be discussing.

01:48The MiG-21 project has garnered significant media attention.

01:51Eventually the aircraft will be sold and all proceeds will go towards funding educational

01:56programs and art therapy.

01:57The MiG-21 project – From the Chinese

02:01The MiG-21 project – From the Chinese

02:03University of Oroch

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