Appearing ready to set off into the Indian Ocean, Innocent Zungu’s cruise liner sand sculpture at Willard Beach has impressed residents and tourists alike.
Zungu (32) has brought his considerable sculpting talent to Ballito for only the second time, after honing his skills in St Lucia, Durban, East London and The Strand in the Western Cape.
Born into a poor family, Zungu initially sought sculpting work as a 10 year old to try and help with bills and food.
“At St Lucia there are these sand dunes that shift and change with the wind. In one of them I saw a heart and made it, with a tourist giving me a R100 for my work. I have done nothing else since,” said Zungu.
That same year, at just 10 years old, Zungu moved to North Beach in Durban to try and make a career out of sand sculpting.
Living among the other sculptors on the streets for eight years, Zungu gleaned any information and advice he could from mentor ‘Themba’, a well known sand artist.
Photo: Wayne Johnstone.
“I learnt everything I know from him, how to compact the sand, how to create a ‘bone’ which is what keeps the sculpture together and how to design from the start,” he said.
Since reaching adulthood, Zungu has moved around the country in search of what he calls ‘the perfect sand’ which makes construction of sculptures easier.
In that time, he has won four of the annual eThekwini sand sculpture competitions, as well as two international competitions in Zanzibar.
Going by the name ‘Supersandman’ on social media, he has created a number of interesting and unique designs that feature everything from airplanes to life-sized animals.
“My favourite series I ever did was creating the big five. All of them were about the same size as the animal, except the elephant because I can’t reach that high!” laughed Zungu.
His process of design changes depending on the quality of sand and what inspiration strikes at the time.
“Living in Durban and now here in Ballito, I see the cruise ships going by every day and into the harbour. This is a dream of mine one day to travel on a ship and sculpting is my way of reflecting that.”
The ship, which is about 10 metres long, took five days to get to the point photographed on December 19, with Zungu likely to keep the sculpture up until Christmas Day.
Aside from the sand itself, he has added plastic bag swimming pools on deck and lights which illuminate the ship at night.
Make sure to get down to Willard Beach to see it for yourself.
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