Museum Africa had been in my mind for quite some time, and I was very curious as to what it would be like. I believe the museum was an amalgamation of the old Afrikaner Museum, and the Geological Museum that used to be in the Public Library. The building it is housed in is the former old market next to the Mary Fitzgerald Square.
The problem with those two museums was that they had a dusty and stuffy feel about them, and frankly did not really interest me as a child. The new museum is light and airy, but seemed to be sadly lacking in substance.
There was lots of space, but there was not much on display. I did like the photography exhibit they had on, but apart from that saw very little to interest me. However, I am going to return as I believe that do have a lot of very interesting readables in the library section which was closed.
Then it was off to my next destination: One of the reasons for my return to the Constitutional Court complex was to photograph the “Angel of the North” statue, which I had glimpsed from the ramparts of The Fort when I was last there. There was also a wooden artwork close to the old Governors House which I wanted too, but had missed last time around as I had not walked in that area when I had been there in March 2012. I parked at the bottom of the court and was pleasantly surprised to find a very nice carved artwork of something from your nightmares. I have no idea what it was, or who made it, but it really is quite a stunning piece of work.
I moved to the top of the parking and walked down the alley towards the governors house. The artwork I was after seem to be loosely called “Governors House Trees” and are by Americo Guambe, Ngwedi Design and Trinity Session. I had seen them from the ramparts as well, but had not realised that they were there in the first place.
From the Fort ramparts
Unfortunately though, I was not really able to get close to have a good look at these works as the space was too crowded with too many youngsters.
Angel of the North was a few metres away.
From the Fort ramparts
The statue is by Winston Luthuli, and it stands on the corner of Queens and Kotze Streets in Hillbrow.
That concluded my afternoon ramble, and a quick pause for one more statue grouping at the Constitutional Court…
I have seen quite a lot of the public art in Johannesburg, and they keep on adding to it all the time. What I like is that so much of it is indigenous, and some of the work is really beautiful. One of these days I will do a “Top 10”, unfortunately though, I keep on finding new pieces that tickle my fancy, and frankly that is a good thing.
© DRW 2012-2021. Images recreated and links changed 25/03/2016