Work begins on commissioned artwork
The winning artwork in the eThekwini Art Prize Competition has been erected on the Durban beachfront.
DURBAN residents and visitors will be treated to the sight of something new at the beachfront, as work on a five meter high outdoor work of art has been started at the intersection of Dr Pixley kaSeme Street and OR Tambo Parade.
This piece was created by ceramicist Clive Sithole, the winner of the first eThekwini Art Prize Competition.
Mduduzi Xakaza, director of the Durban Art Gallery , who facilitated the competition, said the site was carefully selected.
“In 2011, the Durban Art Gallery, under the Department of Libraries and Heritage, embarked on a project of enhancing the exposure of the local citizens to public art that should serve to neutralize the dominant character of the City as a concrete jungle. Bringing visual art to every eThekwini citizen, irrespective of where they may be in the city, would be one of the best ways of affording everybody a democratic right to the appreciation of local artistic talent,” he said.
He said public visual art pieces would embody an abstract aspect of human intellect which would, in turn, enhance both heritage and tourism sectors of the city.
“It is also envisaged that such public art pieces may steadily grow in their dimensions as these competitions attract more funding and critical acclaim in the future,” he said.
Clive Sithole works at a studio in the BAT Centre in the small craft harbour. He took his lead from the traditional isiZulu head-rest design. Using cement, Sithole has re-interpreted the concept of a headrest to denote dreaming and rest – with giant moon-shaped cattle horns and solar panelled-lights.
Sithole was pitted up against two other worthy finalists, Umcebo Design (Robin Opperman and Ujala Jackie Sewpersad) and Kerry Wallace.
The appointed project management team, AG International, who will install the artwork working closely with structural engineers Young and Satharia, are in the process of converting the traffic island at the end of Dr Pixley kaSeme (West) Street into a distinctive feature to help distinguish Durban from all other South African cities.
Project manager Zidhaan Pillay explained that concrete has been poured to create the base structure for the artwork and the steelwork structure is in the process of being erected. Ultimately the final phase will be the completion of the piece, including viewing seats, landscaping and appropriate traffic markings.
It is hoped that the artwork will be complete and in place within a month
