Big Ben in Horison
Talented artist Gideon Nortje assigned himself the massive task of building a replica of Big Ben.
Gideon Nortje will be 90 in August, but this, according to him, is no excuse whatsoever to rest on his laurels.
Sitting still for too long has never been in this talented artist and artisan’s nature.
His latest project, a (nearly) identical scale model of the iconic Great Clock of Westminster, the clock tower more popularly known as Big Ben, measuring an astounding three metres, looms large in Gideon’s lounge, finally complete after nearly a year of painstaking construction.
“I made every piece myself,” says Gideon, pointing proudly to his creation. “I used whatever material I could get hold of, from kiln-dried Saligna for the load-bearing parts, to Pratley Putty, toothpicks, and even cut-up cold drink cans.
“I had the tile that was used for the clock face laser-cut to look exactly like the real thing, and I even made the arms of the clock itself.”
The idea of building Big Ben came about after being given a booklet on its history by a friend.
“This idea has been brewing for a long time, but I just never had the time to do it.”
That is, until last year, when he found himself having completed one of his previous projects, of which there were many, including hundreds of paintings, and even an acoustic guitar made from bamboo.
“It took some time to plan it out,” he says. “But once it gained momentum, there was no stopping me. Had anyone told me beforehand what a mammoth task I’ve assigned myself, I would probably have never taken it on, but I am glad it is finally done.”
Gideon, who was born in Vaalwater in Limpopo, lived and worked for 35 years in Vereeniging, where he owned his own foundry, and moved to Horison around 1995.
“My brother lived on the West Rand, and I always thought it was such a lovely place.”
He has been artistic his whole life, and recalls taking on sketching the natural scenes of Waterhout Kloof, the family farm where he was raised, and becoming interested in sculpture, using the clay of the Mogol River that ran through it.
Not one to let grass grow under his feet, Gideon is already throwing around ideas for his next project.
