LOCAL artist Peta Salmon hopes the mosaic crafted at Westville SAPS draws on community resilience and creates a powerful impact and lasting legacy, especially for gender-based violence victims.

Salmon, a contemporary mixed media mosaic artist based in Westville, designs and uses mosaic artwork to take a stand on, to campaign for and to create awareness of social injustice issues in public space.

“I’ve been running my own mosaic arts organisation, Piece Project Mosaics, for seven years now and employ a team of up to eight ladies from Inchanga to create large mosaic artworks for when we have funding.”

For this particular project funded by the Department of Sports, Art & Culture, Salmon said they chose to propose creating an anti-domestic violence artistic initiative.

Also read: Bellair SAPS concerned about GBV cases

“We created two mosaics using this theme, one for Westville SAPS and the other for the 1000 Hills Community Helpers in Inchanga.”

The artist, who is passionate about her work, said domestic violence is rife not just in SA but especially both in KZN and many local communities.

Speaking about the art Westville SAPS said the mirror glass in the mosaic was designed to reflect a strong and seering radiating light throughout most of the day, seen in both the chains and the bird itself.

“Artistically, it represents how the chains of domestic violence certainly are extremely powerful, but that the bird’s mirrored wings are just as strong, symbolising resilience, hope, and the strength to break free.”

Salmon said they use a lot of mirror glass in their work as it depicts that we see ourselves both in our challenges and in our strengths.

“The only identities seen, felt or experienced will be those that are reflected in the mirror glass. This lends itself to the idea that we see ourselves and each other in being part of the bigger solution.

“Art is a very powerful medium that can gradually change societal mindsets and attitudes in a positive way, influence social transformation and empower communities.”

She added that Piece Projects have created and installed mosaic artworks across the greater Durban area.

“You will come across our work in Pinetown, Mariannridge, Inchanga, Old Fort, South Beach and the Bluff. It’s been a great opportunity to create for Westville and have our artwork on permanent display at SAPS.

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“Finally, I hope that the mosaic draws on community resilience, strength and unity and that it creates a powerful impact and lasting legacy.”

Salmon also thanked Keep Westville Beautiful (KWB) for the plants that they donated to the three large mosaic pots that they created to go alongside the mosaic.

Westville SAPS station commander Colonel Zamantungwa Sihlangu was also impressed with the artwork.

“On behalf of the station and management, I would like to extend sincere appreciation for this beautiful and powerful art. We all know that we have a challenge with regards to gender-based violence. This art shows that we care and are against GBV.

“We are truly grateful to Peta and her team, what they have done here is very much appreciated.”

Sihlangu also thanked KWB for always ensuring that the station forever looks beautiful.

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