Lungile Gumede presents the sculpture to NMF’s Boniswa Nyati
September 1, 2009 –The first day of spring brought forth gifts to the Nelson Mandela Foundation: South African artist Lungelo Gumede presented the Foundation with a sculpture of Nelson Mandela today.
In 2004, in his first year of Fine Arts at the Durban University of Technology, Gumede was given an assignment to design artwork that celebrated South Africa’s first 10 years of democracy.
Unlike other artists who usually make paintings or a bust of Mr Mandela, Gumede opted for something different.
He created a sculpture with a bust, a shrine, a painting and a trolley.The artwork took six months to make and is made out of clay, cement and bronze. It is designed to be moved easily from one place to another.
The piece depicts Mr Mandela’s fist on the left, his face in the middle and an AIDS ribbon on the right.
“His fist symbolises the time that he sacrificed for our freedom. He was imprisoned so that we could enjoy the freedom that we have today,” explained Gumede at the presentation.
Gumede also studied drawing and printmaking and is currently concentrating on doing work which celebrates South African democracy.
His artwork of Mr Mandela was exhibited in Durban during the celebrations of 10 years of democracy, and has since toured the world.
Gumede decided to bring it home to the Foundation.
“I am proud; it has always been my dream to do something for Mr Mandela because he did a lot for us. I made his sculpture big so that he sees it whenever he comes here,” he said.
He added, “Thank you for the opportunity to bring this here. I know that it will stay here and mark an achievement for me and the artists who helped me.
The Foundation’s information resource officer, Boniswa Nyati, was delighted with the gift.
She said, “We are so excited about this. Thank you so much Lungelo, we don’t have enough words to thank you.”
Gumede has also produced portraits of former President Thabo Mbeki and the Mayor of Durban, Obed Mlaba.
The artwork presented by Lungelo Gumede
Lungelo shows off his sculpture
Nelson Mandela’s sculpture back home where it belongs