The launch of the ‘Beyond Walls’ art exhibition of international artist Saype in Sea Point yesterday has attracted attention from locals, an exhibition one cannot see on the ground, but is visible from above, and from photographs taken by drones.

The artist has created installations within the Cape Town exhibition on the lawns in Sea Point (top left), and on the ground in Philippi Village (bottom right), and in Buwga Square in Langa (middle right).

The ‘Beyond Walls’ exhibition features the longest human chain in the world, and represents unity, mutual aid, and common effort beyond geographical constraints.

The new exhibition kicks off the international Public Arts Festival, which will be held from 10 – 14 February. Cape Town was selected as the ninth city in the world for the ‘Beyond Walls’ project, joining hands with installations in Paris, Andorra, Geneva, Berlin, Turin, Istanbul, Ouagadougou, and Yamoussoukro. The exhibition is supported by the Swiss Embassy, its Ambassador Nicolas Brühl stating : ‘In these challenging times with the pandemic, we believe that art plays an essential role in expressing hope, in uniting countries and people, and in advancing human dignity’.

The art work of linked pairs of local hands is created by Swiss Guillaume Legros, with the artist name Saype (from ‘Say Peace’), well known for his work in linking street art and land art. His goal is to travel the world to ‘impact minds and spark conscious dialogue’, according to the Art project media statement. The art creations are painted on land or grass, using ‘eco-friendly and sustainable methods of creating art through respecting nature’. In 2019 he gained the honour of being named one of Forbes’ 30 most influential persons under the age of 30 years in the field of art and culture.

Saype’s ‘Beyond Walls’ art installations in our city ‘symbolises the breaking down of political and social barriers among communities with the hope to further encourage positive dialogue. The hands will intertwine beyond inequality in three different areas of the city’.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said the following about the ‘Beyond Walls’ exhibition:

‘I am very excited that Cape Town is one of the cities chosen to be part of the Beyond Walls initiative. Cape Town is the 9th city, out of 30 to become part of this global artwork. These artworks not only connect us with the rest of the world, but placing them in Sea Point, Langa and Philippi links these spaces in our own city.

As a province, we market ourselves as the Tech Capital of Africa, but we are also home to an incredibly vibrant community of creative artists. Being chosen by a world-renowned artist like Saype to host his artworks in three spaces in our city is a huge honour and further cements our reputation as a creative capital.

Saype was supported in creating these artworks by over 50 local professionals and artists, further expanding the global nature of this piece. The unveiling comes just ahead of the opening of the International Public Art Festival which is being held in Cape Town next month. This open-air exhibition showcases new and existing Cape Town Street art, through guided and non-guided tours, providing a safe way for locals and visitors alike to support our local artists and the creative economy.

Covid-19 and the lockdown has been a difficult time for many artists, performers galleries and cultural attractions and I urge residents to support this sector however they can’.

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide

About Chris von Ulmenstein