Ex-toti scholar makes finals for Durban art contest
EX-toti High School pupil, Robin Opperman was chosen as a finalist in the first eThekwini Art Prize competition.
The three finalists had to create a 3D miniature marquette of a five metre outdoor art piece, which was to be presented to a panel of judges on Monday, 16 September at the Durban Art Gallery. The winning artwork would then be produced into an outdoor piece and placed at the intersection of Dr Pixley ka Isaka Street and OR Tambo Parade in the beach-front, for public viewing.
Robin and fellow Umcebo Design designer, Jackie Sewpersad’s piece, ‘Winds of Change’ drew on change, politically and in a personal capacity. Their work of art was a free-standing wind chime made from recycled materials. The design took its shape from a traditional African hut silhouette and the support beams on the design were similar to those seen as Moses Mabhida Soccer Stadium.
“I imagined the perfect place for it to be the Botanical Gardens. We enlisted the help of two DUT fine art students for the building of the marquette. We envisioned running workshops with community organisations at where the wind chime would be placed,” said Robin.
“I imagined the perfect place for it to be the Botanical Gardens. We enlisted the help of two DUT fine art students for the building of the marquette. We envisioned running workshops with community organisations at where the wind chime would be placed”
The winner of the competition was announced on Monday, 30 September. Taking the honours was Clive Sithole whose design was inspired by the traditional head-rest design. “All three pieces were great and they would look wonderful around Durban. Clive’s piece works well in the Durban beach-front. The exhibition encouraged us and helped us broaden our network of people who we can collaborate with in the future.”
Robin was approached by Diakonia Centre in Durban to create wind chimes for its social justice season festival at the centre on Saturday, 19 October. “We wanted to create something the community could get involved in. It had to be weather durable and fashioned form recycled materials. The problem with using recycled materials is that it often looks like a lot of rubbish stuck together. We wanted to make it look like art and only afterwards people must realise that its made from recycled material.”
“The Centre has been very supportive and given us creative freedom. I couldn’t wish for any better.”
Looking to the future, the self-taught designer hopes to build a big studio as his current Glenwood-based studio limits their creativity. “I hope people one day will visit us at our bigger ‘Umcebo Design’ studio where people can come visit, collaborate and share with us. I am not a believer that someone had to lose, we can all be winner.”
– mbalim@dbn.caxton.co.za
