An exhibition based on the true-life story of South African author Lynn Carneson, daughter of anti-apartheid activists Fred and Sarah Carneson, Red in the Rainbow, returns to Cape Town Iziko Slave Lodge, from July 25 to August 31.

The Carnesons were key anti-apartheid activists and fiercely committed members of the Communist Party who played an integral role in the struggle for freedom in South Africa from the 1930s.

Lynn Carneson’s book Red in the Rainbow – a candid narrative about the impact of this political affiliation on her life – provides the source material for this exhibition. It is a story of political persecution and torture, prolonged separation and enduring love that vividly recounts life in exile and their long awaited return to South Africa in 1991.

Red in the Rainbow not only invokes Fred and Sarah’s lifelong political struggles and triumphs in gripping detail, but also tells a poignant human story of endurance, breakdown, courage and a marriage surviving against all odds. The exhibition contains original material collected over time. Items such as photographs, official prison and repressive state documents, as well family and prison letters will be on display.

”Red in the Rainbow is a struggle exhibition, but it is not about the past. It is about our future,” says urator, Lynn Carneson. “Freedom from injustice has now become freedom to create the kind of South Africa we want. The triumph of the human spirit through years of adversity is still relevant today, and history can be a meaningful way to help us create and realise our dreams.”

Red in the Rainbow launched in 2012 at the Nelson Mandela Gateway Museum and subsequently toured to Pietermaritzburg and Grahamstown. In Cape Town it will be opened on Saturday, July 25 by the Honourable Judge Albie Sachs.

Local and International visitors to the exhibition have noted how vital it is to understand what living under a repressive regime really means. “The language of hatred and resentment we hear so often, even today, only breeds discontent and suffering. Our humanity is more than that. We can live in peace and prosperity, but we have to take responsibility for building the life we want. If this exhibition helps people to understand and feel this, it has been worth the effort,” says Carneson.

The Iziko Slave Lodge is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Inquiries: Paul Tichmann at 021 467 7215 or e-mail ptichmann@iziko.org.za.