Mandela, My Life – the official exhibition
The travelling exhibition recently returned from Australia and New Zealand and is being showcased for the first time in South Africa at the Nelson Mandela Square until July 20.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/02/13551_MandelaExhibi_40117.jpg)
February 20 saw the grand opening of Mandela, My Life: The Official Exhibition at Pappas on the Square in Nelson Mandela Square.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation, in collaboration with Richmark Holdings and in partnership with TEG Live, has brought the world class exhibition that commemorates, illuminates and provides a unique glimpse into the extraordinary personal life of Nelson Mandela to life in South Africa.
The travelling exhibition recently returned from Australia and New Zealand and is being showcased for the first time in South Africa at the Nelson Mandela Square until July 20.
Mandela, My Life: The Official Exhibition features the most comprehensive collection of original artefacts, documents, personal items and artworks.
With over 200 artefacts from The Nelson Mandela Foundation and Richmark Holdings private collection, the exhibition has been curated chronologically across 10 galleries and guides visitors through an emotive journey that is multi-sensory, collections rich and interactive.
Through a newly created cinematic experience, Gallery 1, it invites visitors to feel the power and emotion of one of the most dramatic and significant moments of Mandela’s life – the moment he puts apartheid on trial.
Gallery 2 offers a glimpse into Mandela’s family and journey from child while Gallery 3 explores how and why certain influences shaped a young Mandela with original objects, film and documents enabling visitors to delve into the early life of Mandela as he established himself in Johannesburg.
Gallery 4 provides an insight into the covert nature of Mandela’s daily existence and activities during his period of underground operations when Mandela was dubbed the Black Pimpernel and Gallery 5 explores aspects of Mandela’s life in prison.
In Gallery 6 visitors will be able to see and hear the events of Mandela’s first day of freedom on 11 February 1990 when he was released from Victor Verster prison and Gallery 7 will present the landmark years of Mandela’s Presidency through film, photographs and objects.
At the centre of Gallery 8 are the original chairs from Mandela’s post-presidential office at his foundation in Johannesburg.
Gallery 9 features 95 heartfelt messages to Mandela from around the world, recorded in the 10 days of mourning after his death, each message representing a year of his life and Gallery 10 features 16 original artworks by acclaimed South African artist, John Meyer.
For booking information visit www.mandelamylifeexhibition.com or www.nelsonmandela.org