City starts celebrations of Transport Month significantly
HOUGHTON – Historical references and studies were also explored and included in the mural.
As part of this year’s Transport Month’s activities, the City of Johannesburg organised a tour of the newly decorated S-Bend Mural wall along Louis Botha Avenue in Upper Houghton.
The tour, which was attended by different media houses, was to show the work of the local designers and graffiti artists which represent the history of the area.
The project is managed by the #ArtMyJozi and is commissioned by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), an entity of the City’s transport department.
The wall runs from east to west along the corridor, cross-cutting the suburbs of Yeoville, Observatory and Upper Houghton, and is a significant transport route in Johannesburg.
The S-Bend Mural wall is about 2 800 square metres in surface area, 451 in metres length with a highest point of 8.5 metres.
According to the organisers, the art on the wall was designed by 15 local artists who drew inspiration from the community and its history. About 800 litres of acrylic paint was used to furnish the wall with more than 550 spray cans used for about three months.
Historical references and studies were also explored and included in the mural; and observations of the area are also reflected, such as a portion of the mural that depicts a trolley pusher.
The start of the mural showcases the history of the area, which was a trade route for Ndebele cattle traders coming from Zimbabwe to markets in Pretoria, before the gold rush. The mural also shows the City and the area’s multiple histories through social politics, landscape, architecture and mobility according to the JDA’s Stephen Hobbs.
Hobbs added that graffiti was chosen as it was the most cost and time-effective means to execute the designs. “To ensure that the wall would not be defaced, the project sought graffiti artists who are well known by their design styles,” said Hobbs.
Transport MMC Nonhlanhla Makhuba also took part in the tour on 1 October and embraced the work that has been done to complete the historic S-Bend Mural.
Artists Trevors and Stewards who prefers to be recognised by their ‘street names’ @MEIN163 and @anser_nineone said they were happy to be part of this momentous history and added that this was a collective effort by all 15 artists who were part of the designing, painting and graffiti.
“Their work should be seen an inspiration from the community and the reflection of the past which talks about this area,” they said.
“It depict the past during the bus boycotts, talks about the community itself and various other historic moments of this area.”
They explained that to complete the mural, they gathered information and consulted with the residents to ensure that their input was also reflected on the wall.
Details: Johannesburg Development Agency 011 688 7800.
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https://northeasterntribune.co.za/243423/transport-mmc-makhuba-adamant-brt-project-goes-ahead/
