WE LOVE MANDELA – An Exhibition celebrating his legacy, stature, and omnipresence.
Thursday, 9th November, 2033, saw the official launch of the WE LOVE MANDELA Exhibition. This brand-new gallery space has been brought to life by The South African Gold Coin Exchange, the Scoin Shop, and the Marc.
The marimba band from Jeppe High School for Girls set the scene as guests arrived. Invitees included Carolyn Steyn, Members of the diplomatic corps, and guests from the art world.
Rael Demby, CEO of The South African Gold Coin Exchange & The Scoin Shop, welcomed guests.
The 5th of December marks 10 years since Madiba was put to rest. Today, there are over 40 Statues, landmarks, and monuments around the globe… from Soweto to Sandton to Stellenbosch, from Howick to The Hague, from Cape Town to Cuba, from Paarl to London’s Parliament, from Umtata to Toronto, and from Nobel Square to The Nobel Institute. There are thousands of murals, artworks, sculptures, and books from world-renowned artists and authors, and of course; there are coins and medallions from the world’s leading Mints; all with one common theme – to celebrate and remember the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela.
The WE LOVE MANDELA exhibition aims to showcase some of the most important milestones and moments in Mr. Mandela’s life. It is hoped that gallery visitors will reflect on Madiba’s life and leave this space a little more hopeful and positive over time.
This is an opportunity to see over 40 works created by nineteen artists working in various mediums, including paintings, photographs, textiles, sculpture, ready-made, and other disciplines. Celebrated artists include Simon Stone, Ed Chapman, Jane Makhubele, Wakaba Mutheki, Collen Maswangani, Johannes Maswangani, and Jodie Bieber. For those interested in memorabilia, this exhibition includes a fascinating collection of mementos and souvenirs connected to Nelson Mandela.
As we approach the tenth anniversary of the passing of Nelson Mandela, his spirit continues to shine brightly in the hearts of South Africans and people all around the world. Mandela had this amazing presence that could transform any room he walked into. His charisma was like a magnetic force that drew people in, making them feel inspired and hopeful. This exhibition invites the public to celebrate the man who became an icon and whose image has been replicated innumerable times, ubiquitous on various mediums by artists and non-artists, trained, untrained, and otherwise.
The vision for this exhibition is to showcase an array of rotating works and encourage visitors to visit the gallery again and again.
By Marion Kate
