An exhibition of replicas of ancient French artefacts of the world-famous Lascaux Cave paintings worth more than R40 million and weighing close to 40 tonnes, is coming to downtown Joburg.
This will be the first-ever exhibition of this magnitude to be hosted at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, depicting artefacts dating as far back as 17 000 years ago and which are regarded as masterpieces because of their outstanding quality and sophistication.
The exhibition is being brought to the Cradle of Humankind by the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in collaboration with the French Embassy in Pretoria and the French Institute of South Africa.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the coming of the exhibition, Sci-Bono Discovery Centre CEO Dr More Chakane said the masterpieces will combine artefacts of ‘our own African ancestors to be viewed alongside those of the ancient Palaeolithic Europeans, providing a unique opportunity to experience the very earliest dawn of human creativity’.
An excited Chakane said they were honoured and proud to host the remarkable, one-of-a-kind exhibition that will occupy the entire hall-like floor of the centre and will open to all and sundry to view, explore and learn. “The exhibition gives us a glimpse into what life was like during the time of our earliest ancestors, how they lived, and what was important to them. Our world today was shaped by them and their artworks,” he added.
French ambassador to South Africa, Christophe Farnaud, expressed their delight in partnering with Sci-Bono to bring this humongous exhibition to African soil, and in Johannesburg for the very first time. “As art and symbolism originated in southern Africa, it will showcase an important part of our shared heritage,” he said.
“The exhibition highlights our long-lasting cooperation in the fields of culture, research and science with our South African friends.”
Known as The Wonders of Rock Art, the exhibition, which is sponsored by the French banking group BNP Paribas and its South African subsidiary RCS, global oil and gas company Total South Africa, and Ballore Transport & Logistics South Africa, will be joined by the South African component known as The Dawn of Art.
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