WATCH: The only SA flag that is both the old and the new one at the same time
The sculpture at the Durban Botanic Gardens has ignited debate, with a few people taking exception to seeing the old SA flag when it's not in a museum.
Picture: Twitter video screenshot/@NjabsZwane
One Twitter user was particularly caught out by a wall display at the Durban Botanic Gardens on Sunday, posting a video of how it shows the colours of the old SA flag from one direction, with the new flag from the other side.
Take a look for yourself. The woman who filmed this clip, a radio host, said she was “shocked” to see the old flag in “such a public place”. She said she didn’t understand the symbolism and significance of it. “Like … how?”
The old flag still stands at Durban Botanic Garden! When you come from the other direction you see the new flag.
What is this??????? pic.twitter.com/5Azo7G6Mot— Njabs Zwane (@NjabsZwane) September 30, 2018
What the flag looks like from the other side.
Some people were not happy about it, since they seemed to believe the gardens were “displaying” the old flag, but the garden management were quick to point out that it was a piece of art.
“The flag is a sculptural piece that cleverly represents transformation in our Country. The message and meaning is evident walking past the sculpture from left to right & was commissioned by the Ethekwini municipality and the KwaMuhle Museum,” they explained in a tweet.
It kicked off a lot of Twitter debate, with some arguing that the piece was more appropriate for a museum and not a garden setting. Others pointed out that the piece was clearly meant to show the country’s transition from old to new.
This was a bad idea. Admit it.
— little red riding hooker (@marilynmanhaux) October 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/nahab_sg/status/1046629699995267072
It is an insult to us
— Smahla (@bhekanirichard1) September 30, 2018
The time for this kind of nostalgic symbolism is over. It has to be the new flag. period..!!!
— Hon. Mancibane ⚪️ (@ChimCham7) September 30, 2018
I'm a lover of art and everything creative, and this is well executed, from a historical point of view I see transformation
— thabs (@thabi_duma) September 30, 2018
Symbolism might be transition from the old to the new pic.twitter.com/CYocrkJRim
— Mraussman (@Mraussman1) September 30, 2018
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
For more news your way
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
