nelson mandela monument by marco cianfanelli
a national monument marks nelson mandela’s capture site in natal midlands by marco cianfanelli, 2012image courtesy marco cianfanelli via jonathan burton
south african artist marco cianfanelli has constructed a monument to recognize the 50 year anniversary of peace activist and politician nelson mandela’s capture by the apartheid police in 1962. mandela’s profile spans 50 steel columns measuring 21.32 and 29.52 feet (6.5 and 9 meters) high, each anchored to the concrete-covered ground. the shape and form of the sculpture are representative of the leader’s 27 years behind bars for his efforts to bring equal rights and governmental representation to the once racially divided nation. the statue of the nobel prize winner has been erected in howick, a town located 56 miles (90 kilometers) south from the city of durban in the countryside of the southernmost african country.
the work, as seen from a distance image via visual news
cianfanelli says of his work ‘this represents the momentum gained in the struggle through the symbolic of mandela’s capture. the 50 columns represent the 50 years since his capture, but they also suggest the idea of many making the whole; of solidarity. it points to an irony as the political act of mandela’s incarceration cemented his status as an icon of struggle, which helped ferment the groundswell of resistance, solidarity and uprising, bringing about political change and democracy.‘
image courtesy marco cianfanelli via jonathan burton
image courtesy marco cianfanelli via jonathan burton
a perspective picturing the side of the installation image via visual news
left: the raw metal components laid out after cutting, before painting and installment right: building of the artwork images via visual news
a detailed perspective of the uneven edges of one of the piece’s 50 columns
image courtesy marco cianfanelli via jonathan burton
alternate perspective of the monument image by brendan copestake
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it's disturbing to some. it's gorgeous to others. it's a new series for schön! magazine.
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Brilliant!!
genial
Nelson Mandela’s legacy is being destroyed by his own people. Pity!
one word:
wow
so brilliant, so inteligent!
Is it 50 columns or 27?
Looks more like Kofi Anan lol!! It is really nice, though I think I have seen this done b4 so its not completely original is it?
really fascinating!
Re RK’s comment: This significant fantastical art work which is almost original(!), and the wind whispering throuhg it, must be recorded soon for posterity because it will, as sure as the sun shines in that beautiful lost country, be cut down by his people, and sold as scrap metal.
Speaking as a metal sculptor and art lover: brilliant!
Designboom, please show us more work by this sculptor Marco Cianfanelli
Anyone new exactly where this is located, GPS coordinates would be awesome; I am going to go try hunt this down tomorrow
Another one! and the people are striking and starving……….
Simply FANTASTIC
El momumento mas hermoso y con sentido, con historia jamas antes hecho.FABULOSO.
Absolutely fabulous creative art for a great person!
We’d like to use the same technique for an art project in Canada. How do I contact the artist?
Wow, it still stands and has not gone to the scrap metal dealers yet…
Can you show us how Marco Cianfanelli design the Mandela sculpture? This so amazing, lost for words to describe it. Mind boggling ……..
Thank you for doing justice to an Icon.
A great honeur for a great men.
An outstanding piece of art dedicated to a GREAT man
RIP
Awesome art to remember a great man!
Stunning. A fitting tribute to a well-tempered man.
That’s amazing
Extraordinarily ingenious and fitting tribute