Imagine a giant pangolin painted on a textile factory wall. That is the kind of art we are here to explore today at the Spes Bona Mural. Cape Town’s murals are more than just paint. They are stories and ideals of the city’s residents.
Street art in Cape Town gained momentum even when graffiti was declared a public nuisance in 2010. The city is graced with world-class murals by local and international artists. These murals are created with the permission of city authorities. The Spes Bona Mural adds to this rich collection.
One notable mural, though unsigned, commemorates the youth uprising of June 16, 1976. Thousands of schoolchildren confronted the apartheid state in Soweto. The colourful hatching on the child’s face is a signature style of local graffiti artist Skhumbuzo. The mural is inspired by a photograph taken by Ignatius Mokone. It showcases an African aesthetic. You can see it in the Lesotho hat and the headgear worn by silhouetted figures.
Another striking piece is the intricate black and white geometry by Colombian artist Mas Paz. His double-storey mural graces a unit in the N2 Gateway housing project in Langa. His work often appears abstract. Yet it maintains a sense of organic form. Animals are a favourite motif. They are drawn using the same geometric style.
Mas Paz created an African Madonna and child. He stencilled his tag onto the babe’s swaddling. Mas Paz donates 5% of his earnings to La Casa de La Madre y El Nino. This is where he grew up in Bogota. Ekhaya means home in Xhosa.
Breeze Yoko, an artist from Johannesburg, painted a mural with sepia tones. These tones represent past protests that established a democratic South Africa. The mural is titled Libambe lingatshoni. It roughly translates to “Do not let the sun go down”. Breeze Yoko believes the real future lies in the hands of our children and grandchildren. Afro-punk elements are visible in the blue lipstick and hairstyle on the main subject.
Joe Slovo, former General Secretary of the South Africa Communist Party, looms over the N2 highway. This mural is at the N2 Gateway housing project. Ricky Lee Gordon AKA Freddy Sam painted it. Slovo resisted apartheid and was charged with treason in 1956. The charges were dropped two years later. He became a leader of the ANC’s armed wing. Slovo’s wife, Ruth First, was killed by a letter bomb while he was in exile. He was later appointed minister of housing.
A giant pangolin, painted by Belgian artist Rua, lies on its back in Salt River. It’s at a textile factory. The pangolin is one of the most illegally traded species. Rua painted it during the International Public Art Festival to highlight the threat to this species.
One of Cape Town’s most photographed murals shows Boniswa shading her eyes. She looks toward Table Mountain from the Isivivana Centre in Khayelitsha. Breeze Yoko painted it in 2016. He dedicated it to the black girl child who holds the key and the vision of the future.
Near Red Cross Hospital in Rondebosch, a mural supports freedom and peace in Israel and Palestine. SergeOne is the artist. Salt River has a particularly rich collection of public art.
These murals reflect South Africa’s transition to democracy. They address wealth disparity in Cape Town. Local artists use their art to speak out. They proudly represent their culture and history.
As you explore the Spes Bona Mural and its surroundings, remember that each artwork tells a story. These stories reflect the spirit and struggles of Cape Town. They offer a glimpse into the heart of its diverse communities. The murals bring art to the streets where it was born.