The largest wall painting in Johannesburg, the S-Bend Wall Mural, is expected to be completed by the end of August.
The painting of the 3000 square metres wall surface, which runs east-west along the Louis Botha corridor, cuts across the suburbs of Yeoville, Observatory and Upper Houghton and began in June.
The mural, which is commissioned by the City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department and implemented by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), forms part of the Art My Jozi campaign.
Art My Jozi focuses on collaborations with local creatives to create an identity for an area inspired by local stories. Art My Jozi has been rolled out in areas such as Noordgesig, Brixton, Orange Grove, and various points along the Empire Perth and Louis Botha Development Corridors.
Painting the S-Bend Wall Mural offered a unique opportunity for telling Joburg’s multiple histories through social politics, landscape, architecture and mobility.
The significant scale of the artwork warranted a collective approach to execution, cross pollinating and upcycling of styles and skills, as well as sharing of knowledge and building new networks for emerging artists and muralists.
One of the main themes of the mural is modes of transport. Historically, Ndebele traders took cattle and agricultural produce to markets along the Great North Road in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Since the early 20th century, Louis Botha Avenue has been one of Joburg’s primary transport routes, with cars, buses and taxis moving tens of thousands of people daily between Alexandra and Johannesburg.
“The S-Bend Wall Mural is an opportunity to interrogate the ever-changing face of Johannesburg while celebrating its development, reimagining its future and reflecting on its past,” said Member of Mayoral Committee for Development Planning Cllr Reuben Masango.
Once completed, the S-Bend Mural will be handed over to the Department of Community Development and will form part of the City’s public art asset register.
