WITH a number of new upgrades to uMhlanga’s iconic landmark, the Whalebone Pier now has 18 new ellipses mosaic-tile designs showcasing sea life found along the coastline of KwaZulu-Natal.
It’s all part of R3.2-million upgrade project to the pier by the eThekwini Municipality.
Artist Kirsten Miller from Kirsten Miller Creative Studio in Glenwood, alongside 14 other volunteers and employed artists, was responsible for the project with each mosaic design showing a variety of whale species, a dolphin,and a Black-Tip Shark.
She explained how the project came about and said she was thrilled to work with learners from the Action in Autism school in Park Hill.
“I started the studio a little over a year ago and the idea was to create an inclusive space that welcomes people from neuro-diverse backgrounds. Having worked at Action in Autism and having a background in autism I felt this project would be an amazing opportunity. I had a team of 14 join me to help meet the project’s first deadline for the opening of the season; I had artists from the Phansi Museum, graduates from Action in Autism, and about seven generous volunteers. It was a fantastic opportunity for collaboration and this project enabled that vision of giving people with neuro diverse conditions a chance to showcase their passion and talent. I could not have done completed this project without my team and I really value their contributions to this project.
“The feedback from visitors to the pier has been amazing, and it has been awesome seeing the designs shared on social media. To complete the project, we just have to complete the two panel walls at the start of the pier. One panel will feature a whale while the other panel will have the name of the pier incorporated into the design. With this project, all the mosaic panels were assembled off-site and then inserted into the existing ellipses shapes. We used crystal-glass tiles, and when the sunlight hits the tiles, it really brings the designs to life,” she explained.
Miller also gave insight into the design patterns of the 18 mosaic pieces lining the pier.
“The brief we were given was the City wanted whales as the standout feature. The designs feature whales typically found on the KZN coastline, including the Humpback Whale and Southern Right Whale. I think the idea is to make the pier a whale-spotting hotspot. We also have designs showing dolphins, a Whale Shark and a Black-Tip Shark,” she said.
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