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Chris Auret’s art piece shows a symbiotic relationship between sea creatures and humans. PHOTO: KAYLYNNE
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Murals a delightful sight KAYLYNNE BANTOM KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@MEDIA24.COM
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everal public toilets at Milton Beach on the Sea Point Promenade have received a facelift thanks to artwork done by local artists. The murals form part of a project by local art company SJ Artists to beautify public spaces. The artists, Chris Auret, Alicia McFadzean, Russell Abrahams, Gerard Human and Jessica Doucha, created colourful art pieces with the ocean and sea animals being their theme focus. Their aim is to create awareness that it is everyone’s shared responsibility to look after the ocean and also to showcase the wonders of the sea. Shani Judes, founder of SJ Artists, says: “Art can be accessible to everybody; it
doesn’t have to be on the white walls of a galley space. Public art is important as it brings general fun, colour and goodness to people.” Judes explains that one of the murals created by Auret showcasing a shark with a hand around it is a symbiotic depiction of sea creatures and how we must protect them. She says this is in line with the Wavescape Surf and Ocean Festival which takes place annually between 4 and 12 December. Another artwork by McFadzean, commonly known as the Cheeky Observer, is a beautiful butterfly coloured in soft blue and pink which signifies the ocean. McFadzean described her piece in a blog post. She started her mural in March but was forced to put it on hold when lockdown kicked in. “The symbolism was not lost on me. This time has shone a clear light on the flawed capitalist system that runs our society, and
has given us a glimpse as to what our skies could look like without pollution. Judes says they are hoping to complete the project on the other toilets on the promenade but says they need more sponsors to get involved. Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for community services and health who visited the murals on Tuesday 8 December, says the murals are a welcoming sight on the promenade. “The murals beautifully compliment the work that we have started here on the promenade. We have started to rehabilitate this whole promenade by planting new grass, planting indigenous trees, creating new pathways and also the maintenance of playing equipment. The work stretches all the way from the Mouille Point lighthouse up to the Sea Point swimming pools.” He says the rehabilitation project cost just under R10 million.
Nicola Jowell, ward councillor for ward, 54, says: “Art has the ability to evoke emotion, really inspire people and so this is a space where I think people come for release from everyday life, worries at home and it creates an environment here where you can feel you can walk about, enjoy the scenery.” Jowell encouraged people to visit the promenade and witness the beauty, but to respect the public amenities. Badroodien agrees, with the proviso that people should not become complacent and compromise their health during the holiday season. He says in recent weeks the city has seen a massive spike of more than 140% in Covid-19 cases. “We don’t want to close our city, we don’t want to close our businesses. But in order to do that I need residents to work with us, to do the hand sanitising, hand washing, masking and social distancing so that we can keep our city open for as long as possible.”
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