The Light Bulb Moment: The Artist's concept
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| A fabricator busy assembling the mosaic for the Raymond Mhlaba memorial. |
| Picture courtesy of Lesley Perkes |
Andrew Lindsay developed the Raymond Mhlaba artwork - a large floor mosaic depicting scenes from the 1952 defiance campaign - from a concept put forward by Port Elizabeth artist Mxolisi Sapeta, writes Janette Bennett.
Circles of colour have been introduced into the black-and-white mosaic - and within the circles, there are footprints to represent the walk of the campaigners. "I wanted to keep it simple," Lindsay says. The use of black and white evokes the sense of the past; the use of colour brings in light and hope, as well as emphasising the feelings of the time.
The footprints are not evenly spaced; they are placed at irregular intervals to create the sense of a "negotiated walk". Lindsay explains: "It would not have been an easy walk for Raymond Mhlaba and his group."
The artwork was assembled in Johannesburg, the intensely-detailed mosaic picture demanding constant work for about 10 days. The entire image measures 4m by 3m. It was transported by road from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth in 12 panels, each measuring just over a metre.
Scenes of the defiance campaign are created in mosaic. They include scenes of police dogs, a huge fist and running figures. The circles and footprints are placed throughout the image, but do not obscure the scenes.
The work is set into concrete on the large slabs at the entrance of the Red Location Museum, where the black-and-white floor mosaic with its eye-catching circles of colour can be easily seen by any visitor.
The footprints at irregular intervals do more than recreate what Lindsay calls "the tension and negotiation on the famous walk". They also invite people to interact with the artwork. Viewers need to think about how they can get across the picture ... perhaps by jumping or stretching from circle to circle. |
