What began as a modest community idea has grown into a sprawling public art project, transforming walls in Sophiatown into a vivid tribute to its layered past.

The mural initiative, led by artists Tiyiselani Kubayi and Craig Hodgson, traces its roots back to late 2022, when Hodgson first began conceptual work on his own. The project gained momentum in early 2024 when Kubayi joined, followed by a broader team effort that brought the artwork to life across two major walls.

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By October 2024, Hodgson said the scope had expanded significantly. What started with just a few painted faces evolved into a large-scale visual narrative featuring numerous figures, completed over six to seven weeks of intensive work. In total, the main walls required roughly a month and a half of continuous painting.

The creative process was collaborative. Hodgson and Kubayi focused primarily on the portrait work, while Austin Robinson handled detailed elements, such as cars and painterly recreations.

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Assistant artists Nathan Brizee, Arno Cornelissen, and others contributed to backgrounds, lettering, and finishing touches. Videographer Dayne Fishwick also played a supporting role, occasionally assisting with painting while documenting the project for an upcoming YouTube documentary.

“It started small, but it became something much bigger,” said Hodgson, “a way of reminding people what Sophiatown was, and still is.”

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