Two of South Africa's most highly acclaimed sculptors, Claudette Schreuders and Noria Mabasa, have been appointed to produce the sculptures for the Nobel Square Project, a Western Cape Government project in partnership with the V&A Waterfront, aimed at honouring South Africa's four Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and the country's extraordinary achievement of peace and democracy.
Nobel Square, located between the V&A Hotel and CD Wherehouse in the V&A Waterfront, will be home to sculptures of the late Nkosi Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, former State President FW de Klerk and former President Nelson Mandela, as well as a fifth sculpture, Peace and Democracy, a narrative work acknowledging the contribution of women and children to the attainment of peace in South Africa.
"Paying tribute to these four sons of Africa in the Western Cape, plays an important role in aligning our province, no longer isolated, with the efforts and passions of South Africa and Africa. And what more appropriate and remarkable way of doing this than by building a sculptural square in the historical heart of Cape Town with works by two of our country's most talented, accomplished and visionary sculptors - one an older woman from the northern parts of South Africa and the other a younger sculptor from the south - both with their feet firmly rooted in Africa and an acknowledged master of their craft," says Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool.
"Expressing our cultures and identity as a nation through the arts, is especially important to us in the Western Cape as a tool in building the province as a Home for All our people. As we create this place of reflection, we are not only building the Home for All in our hearts and minds, but also embracing this concept in our open spaces and public surroundings. Each Laureate played his own meaningful and different role in achieving peace and democracy, each one at a different time of the struggle, while sometimes uniting their efforts. They came from different political backgrounds, from different races, origins and spoke different languages, but together the four left an indelible mark on the South African landscape. This tribute must be a symbol that will hold the same significance to future generations. It is the people of the Western Cape's gift to our nation, continent and world."
Schreuders, based in Cape Town, will be producing the sculptures of the four Laureates. This 32-year-old artist has a Masters Degree in Fine Art. She enjoys international recognition and regularly sells the works she exhibits in New York at the Jack Shainman Gallery. She creates figures that reflect the ambiguities of the search for an 'African' identity in the post-apartheid 21st century. Her figures demonstrate a hybrid canon influenced by the blolo and colon figures of West Africa, as well as other stylistic input from medieval church sculpture, Spanish portraiture and Egyptian woodcarving.
Mabasa is the sculptor of Peace and Democracy. She is a 70-year-old artist from Vuwani in the Limpopo Province who has been declared one of South Africa's living treasures and recently had a street in Johannesburg named after her. Mabasa, whose works come to her through dreams, is one of the foremost artists using Venda myths and legends. Her twisted wooden figures, The Flood (1994) and Union Buildings (1999), are some of her better-known works. She also makes figurative ceramics, some of which were included in the first Johannesburg Biennale in 1994.
"We are privileged to partner with the Premier's Office on the Nobel Square Project. The V&A Waterfront is the perfect venue for this historically significant project," said Derick van der Merwe, Managing Director of Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (Pty) Ltd. "Our congratulations go to Noria Mabasa and Claudette Schreuders - both exceptionally talented artists - for having been nominated to produce these sculptures. We have no doubt that they will portray these four great men with the dignity they deserve. The V&A Waterfront is steeped in history and attracts more than 22-million visits a year, making it an appropriate place to pay tribute to these South African heroes. Nobel Square will become a renowned visitor and artistic attraction for the Western Cape. Its historical and cultural significance and universal symbolism will make it a 'must-see' for both local and international visitors."
The artists' appointment follows a thorough and comprehensive consultative process followed by the Nobel Square Project Committee, comprising representatives of the four Laureates, Western Cape Government, V&A Waterfront and the province's tourism and arts sectors, and its advisory body, the Nobel Square Technical Committee, comprising Western Cape art and technical experts. The Laureates' representatives have said that they are particularly impressed with the integrity of the process and progress made thus far.
Says Van der Merwe: "The sculptures of the four Laureates will stand in the form of a crescent with Table Mountain in the background, overlooking Nobel Square. They will be slightly larger than life-size and will have the Laureates' preferred quotations engraved in their chosen language in front of the sculptures. The Peace and Democracy sculpture will be slightly more to the centre of the square.
All five sculptures will be cast in bronze and stand on an inner granite area of 386 square metres. (Nobel Square's outer area will be 605 square metres.) The sculptures and trees will be illuminated at night. Construction on the site is scheduled to start on 1 August 2005. The Nobel Square sculptures will be unveiled at a ceremony on Reconciliation Day, 16 December 2005."
ISSUED BY: Dr Lionel Louw, Chairperson: Nobel Square Project CommitteeENQUIRIES: Riana Geldenhuys
Tel: 021 483 3629 or 082 376 4709
Email: rgeldenh@pgwc.gov.za
Visit www.nobelsquare.com
