Public art in Johannesburg
Encyclopedia
Johannesburg
is home to an extensive portfolio of public art. A diverse and evolving city, Johannesburg boasts a vibrant art scene and a variety of works that range from sculptures to murals to pieces by internationally renowned artists like William Kentridge
and Gerhard Marx
’s Fire Walker
. Many pieces are developed through community workshops, such as the Vilakazi Street sculptures. Others are functional, such as street furniture found in Hillbrow and the City Centre.
As part of the Johannesburg Development Agency’s (JDA) policy to make city areas desirable to potential investors, the organisation has identified public art as a successful means to improve the urban experience of the city, while empowering South African artists at the same time. Due to this a percentage of every JDA project is allocated to a public art installation as part of the project.
The public art project in Johannesburg has brought city spaces alive. The art hopes to attract the public into spaces they wouldn’t usually venture, while drastically improving areas and providing a living record of Johannesburg the city and society.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
is home to an extensive portfolio of public art. A diverse and evolving city, Johannesburg boasts a vibrant art scene and a variety of works that range from sculptures to murals to pieces by internationally renowned artists like William Kentridge
William Kentridge
William Kentridge is a South African artist best known for his prints, drawings, and animated films. These are constructed by filming a drawing, making erasures and changes, and filming it again. He continues this process meticulously, giving each change to the drawing a quarter of a second to two...
and Gerhard Marx
Gerhard Marx
-Biography:Born in 1976, he completed his Master degree in Fine Arts cum laude at the University of Cape Town in 2004. He has worked with well known artists such as William Kentridge and the Handspring Puppet Company...
’s Fire Walker
Fire Walker
The Fire Walker is a public art sculpture in Johannesburg’s inner city. The piece is located on Sauer and Simmonds Street, off of the Queen Elizabeth Bridge...
. Many pieces are developed through community workshops, such as the Vilakazi Street sculptures. Others are functional, such as street furniture found in Hillbrow and the City Centre.
As part of the Johannesburg Development Agency’s (JDA) policy to make city areas desirable to potential investors, the organisation has identified public art as a successful means to improve the urban experience of the city, while empowering South African artists at the same time. Due to this a percentage of every JDA project is allocated to a public art installation as part of the project.
The public art project in Johannesburg has brought city spaces alive. The art hopes to attract the public into spaces they wouldn’t usually venture, while drastically improving areas and providing a living record of Johannesburg the city and society.