Curated by Dirkie Offringa

Metalwork: Public Art in Stellenbosch II

CURATORIAL STATEMENT

Monuments, memorials and civic statuary are the oldest forms of officially sanctioned public art. The term public art refers to works of art in any media that have been planned and executed with the intention of being sited or staged in the physical public domain. It is often out of doors and accessible to all. Stellenbosch blazed the trail for outdoor art with local land artist Strijdom van der Merwe’s red-wrapped trees in the historic Dorp Street in 2008. Hot on his tracks came Dylan Lewis, also a Stellenbosch artist, who exhibited his bronze sculptures across the centre of the town until 2010.

In 2011 this art out-of-doors was followed by the exhibition 20Stellenbosch: South African Sculpture of the Last Two Decades, which included sculptures mainly from the NIROX Foundation, and which showcased the achievements of contemporary South African sculptors over the last twenty years.

The aim of the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust with Metalwork: Public Art in Stellenbosch II is to build on the success of these shows. Therefore, with the cooperation of the Stellenbosch Municipality, outdoor sculptures are again placed at approved locations in the historic town of Stellenbosch. By placing these works of art in unexpected places out of doors, the Trust aims to create public awareness of the interplay between art, architecture and public spaces, make art accessible to everybody, and bring established artists and new talent to the people. We hope that this will create a familiarity with and an appreciation of art, and also an awareness of heritage conservation in general.

Because some people appear to be afraid or apathetic to visit art museums, many public art initiatives are undertaken all over the world and also in South Africa, for instance in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Stellenbosch, so as to democratise art and aestheticise everyday life.