SA Icon exhibition at Moad
MABONENG PRECINCT - 21 great South Africans celebrated in multi-media show.
A multi-media exhibition featuring portraits and short films of 21 of South Africa’s greatest social masters opened at the Museum of African Design.
Portrait of a Nation, the poignant and inspiring exhibition by 21 Icons and Mercedes-Benz South Africa, marks the culmination of the first season of 21 Icons and the first public showing of the collection.
Among the nation’s leading lights included in the exhibition are Nelson Mandela, Prof. Phillip Tobias, FW de Klerk, Ahmed Kathrada, Lillian Cingo, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Desmond Tutu, Sophia Williams de Bruyn, and George Bizos.
The exhibition will also include the last photographic portrait of Mandela, of which a signed, limited edition sold for a record R2 million in December last year.
“Like so many photographers, I had a dream of photographing Mandela,” said project co-founder and principal photographer, Adrian Steirn.
“In the process, I met 20 other incredible, iconic men and women. Their stories are the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy…”
Maboneng Precinct spokesperson Hayleigh Evans said that visitors will be able to experience an audio-visual, interactive walk-through of the original portraits and accompanying short films while accessing a 21 Icons smartphone Augmented Reality app that will act as a personal exhibition guide.
She added that the organisers made provision for guided school tours, and Tali Nates, Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre director, developed an educational interactive programme using the icons’ stories.
The tours will be conducted by trained students from the universities of the Witwatersrand and Johannesburg.
Several regular precinct events will also take place in the exhibition space during its two-month run.
A life-sized artistic wire-and-bead representation of the new C-Class Mercedes-Benz, known as the Beaded Benz, will be on display at the exhibition.
“This exhibition is the culmination of years of meticulous planning, persistent determination, craft and creative expression by all involved,” said project co-founder and executive creative director Harriet Pratten.
“Every icon has been a well of inspiration. It is a tremendous privilege to share their stories.”
Portrait of a Nation will run until 17 August at the Museum of African Design, 281 Commissioner Street, Maboneng Precinct.
Details: www.moadjhb.com/21icons
WATCH: The 21 Icons Nelson Mandela short film:
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