Art in the City

The City of Stellenbosch has many sculptures displayed both in public squares and in museums. The common thread of these exhibits, while appearing to be connected to the history and life in the surrounding region, also seems related to the larger environment of South Africa. 

Many of the pieces suggest the battling identities of two worlds, the wild and the tamed.  “Wild” may be perceived as expressions of strength, stealth, grace, and the hunting skills needed to survive in the wild. Representations of the “tamed” could show narratives imposed on the subjects by those who wielded power over them and make the subjects seem to be something that was not inherently theirs. Many works of sculpture throughout Stellenbosch seemingly symbolized depictions of these two opposites.   

Some pieces show intricate details of faces and movements frozen in time. However, at the same time, many of the city’s artworks, including non-sculptures, could also be emulating the evolving culture of South Africa. Stellenbosch’s art shows the struggles of the past, the difficulties and successes of the present, and the promise of the future. 

Adalyssa H

7/20/22