Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
The super-sized spectacles, titled Perceiving Freedom, made of stainless steel, are a full 60m2 in size and look out to Robben Island; creating a focal point of commemoration between its location and our country’s history.
Artist Michael Elion’s sculptural tribute to Nelson Mandela, Perceiving Freedom. Picture: Nardus Engelbrecht/SAPA
There was a lot of debate around the art work; not everyone appreciated the Elion-City of Cape Town collaboration and, instead, saw it as opportunistic.
Duane Jethro said the art work suggests Mandela is beckoning us from the afterlife to buy Ray-Ban sunglasses, to do our duty for reconciliation and nation-building by consuming this luxury product.”
While Richard Poplak from the Daily Maverick described the work as “pointedly non-political, inclusionary, and user-friendly”.
The group Tokolos Stencils who stand for ‘freedom and justice’ (and are ‘willing to fight for it’) have vandalised the art work.
Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
The vandals say they ‘intervene in white supremacist corporatist art’.
Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
The group says “there is always space to broaden our vision so that we can all see the bigger picture” on Mandela’s sunglasses.
Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
Their tumblr page says they are an anonymous group of artisits, activists and concerned citizens – remaining anonymous because their work is often illegal.
Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
They believe South Africans need to be reminded that freedom will remain ‘elusive’ unless we fight for it.
Picture: Tumblr (tokolosstencils)
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