Free State artists benefitted from the Public Arts Programme called Towards a People’s Culture, managed by Oliewenhuis Art Museum. The artists received stipends for two months and participated in creating murals at selected sites in the Free State.
This initiative forms part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP). The Department of Sport, Arts & Culture partnered with Oliewenhuis Art Museum to recruit 100 young people involved in the creative arts sector to participate in the Free State Public Arts Programme.
The Programme consists of creating art murals at selected community sites around the Free State to raise awareness on social ills such as Gender Based Violence and the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This entire project was led by the project leader, Marius Jansen van Vuuren. He has extensive (International and local) experience on public art projects and has worked with local artists on public arts projects as part of the Free State Arts Festival. We showcase four of the murals created by the artists:
Mural at Nando’s in Welkom welcomes a new mural
This mural is painted on a utility building on the property of Nando’s in Welkom and can be viewed from the outside of the property and when you visit the drive-thru.
The work speaks to the theme of Gender Based Violence. The concept was created by Nearlern Hendricks, the model was Priscilla Modise and the extraordinary Pop/Art mural design was done by Julian Mentz. The mural was painted by Mohlolo Borole, Nealern Hendriks and Bongani Tshabalala Oliewenhuis Art Museum staff members, Tladi Motholo and Piet Sekuni also assisted.
Mural at Kula Court in Bloemfontein
This mural has been painted next to the entrance of a block of flats named, Kula Court located on 2 Short Street, Bloemfontein Central. The building is owned by Salome Reizis (@salomereizis). The mural can be viewed when passing the building – #gotakeaselfie!!!
The work speaks to the theme of Gender Based Violence. The concept and mural design was created by Lehlohonolo Lepheana (@hlonii04) who considers how Silebce is often used as a tool by abusers to isolate their victims. One thing is for sure though: people are talking about this now.
The mural was painted by artists Junior (@juniormentz), Hloni, Valentino Molebatso (@LostKind_King), Letsego Shago (@shagoletsegotheodore) and Lawrence Mangalo (@lonnz_m).
Mural at Mmabana Art Centre in Thaba Nchu, Free State
This mural is painted and can be viewed in the foyer of the Mmabana Art Centre in Thaba Nchu, Free State. The mural pays tribute to Monique Williams, a victim of Gender Based Violence who was sadly murdered by her husband in 2016 while she was still a director of the Centre. Her untimely passing left a great void in the community. The concept and mural design was done by project leader, Marius Van Vuuren (@mariusjansenvvuurenartist).
The mural was painted by Junior (@juniormentz), Diseko Onkabetsi and Nthabeleng Hlabanyane. Oliewenhuis Art Museum staff members, Tladi Motholo and Piet Sekhuni also assisted.
Mural at the Ramblers Club in Bloemfontein
This mural is painted on the side of a utility building on the premises of Ramblers Club a Bloemfontein landmark.
The work speaks to the theme of Gender Based Violence but also attempts to incorporate elements on the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mural was designed to be deliberately ambiguous in this regard in order to highlight how domestic abuse was exacerbated by the #2020lockdown. The concept was created by @dex_the_rapper and the mural design was done by Junior (@juniormentz).
The mural was painted by, Junior, Dex, Rethabile Nyatsoba, Letshego Shago (@shagoletsegotheodore), Lawrence Mongalo (@lonnz_m), Meghan Johns, Karabo Leeuw, Waverley Makatsila and Mojalefa Mabine.
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