Stellenbosch residents may be startled to find a cheetah stalking them as they make their way through town over the next few months. Dylan Lewis, internationally renowned sculptor from
Stellenbosch, will be giving art lovers a unique experience by turning the town into an
outdoor sculpture gallery. Not only will his life-size sculptures be viewed up close and personal, but in the setting Dylan will allow the animals depicted to claim back the area they once roamed freely.
Twenty-three life-size Dylan Lewis sculptures will be on display in and around the main areas of Stellenbosch, including the historic town centre and the communities of Idas Valley, Jamestown, Tennantville and Kayamandi until April 2009. Among these ‘manifestations’ of wildlife will be 21 big cats, a buffalo pair and one rhino.
Lewis has received much international success, but he would like credit to be shared with the community members who work for him in the foundries where the sculptures are made. His intention is for the families and friends of the workers to see what they have achieved and in turn introduce art as a form of expression and to pave the way towards nature conservation and appreciation.
As Dylan takes his inspiration from the wilderness, this outdoor experience speaks not only to discerning art lovers, but also to people passionate about the environment. Educating today’s young minds and the Stellenbosch community is also important to Dylan.
The sculptures will be marked with a plaque displaying a Cell C cell phone number for callers to phone in order to learn more about the pieces on display. The audio information will be available in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, German and French. The profits from the calls will be donated by Cell C to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), South Africa. “We are extremely proud to be part of this exhibition and delighted that we can support the conservation and preservation of our environment in this way,” says Simon Camerer, Cell C’s Executive Head: Marketing.
While most art does not lend itself towards tactile enjoyment, Dylan encourages viewers to touch his sculptures to get a deeper understanding of art and an appreciation for the environment that inspires it.
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Bonne Esperance
