One of the legacies of the World Cup is the beginnings of a brilliant public transport system – a subway on wheels – built on the model of Curitiba (Brazil) and Bogota (Columbia). Both these cities have been exceptionally successful at addressing the needs of the middle classes and the poor and, significantly cutting down on traffic and road accidents. They have also experienced dramatic increases in property values around stations. The latter has been very positive for poor communities as it has meant each node has become a key for local economic development and the provision of social services.
Check out more about the MY Citi service. In addition to the convenience of an expanding public transport network, the Integrated Rapid Transport (IRT) system is also introducing a network of public art pieces.
In the first phase of the IRT system, the three bus stations each incorporate a work by a local artist which resonates with the history of Cape Town.
ARG architects have been key to the artwork integration into the stations which they designed and project managed into existence. ARG Design is a multi-disciplinary professional practice providing a range of services across the built environment professions. Alistair Rendalls and Gita Goven, two of the directors of City Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Management, are passionate about supporting the arts. As a result they ensured that a budget was made available for public art in each station.
The work of the three artists was chosen through a process of calling for proposals. Educentric cc, a company which manages public art commissions and exhibitions managed the process that resulted in the final works going up. Roger Van Wyk and Lerato Berang of the company will speak at the next Creative Cape Town Clusters (8 July) on the IRT Public Art project
Ceramicist and mosaic artist, Lovell Friedman, working at the IRT station at the Cape Town Stadium in Greenpoint, has developed a series of mosaics based on the history of the area, its inhabitants and the activities they enjoyed there. Lovell has worked for a number of years training artists to do mosaic work and has, as an artist facilitator, contributed to a number of public art projects around the city over the years.
The IRT Station at the Cape Town International Airport is the site of renowned artist Sue Williamson’s work, titled A Random History of Cape Town, 1499-1994. The work, sandblasted on both sides of the glass of the IRT station, includes the peninsula landscape and clouds filled with texts based on quotes taken from the journals of key figures in our history, including Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada.
The Civic Centre IRT station is the site of the largest station piece. Designed by set designer and illustrator Julia Anastasopoulos, the work features cityscapes of Cape Town. The two metre high walls on either side of the station are used as her canvas. Anastasopoulos, who has a background in illustration and set design, has produced detailed cityscapes of Cape Town’s past as well as its future.
These three works are only the beginning for the City of Cape Town, which in spite of tight budgets, has pledged to incorporate art in all its IRT stations; both to create an identity for the stations, and also to enhance the experience for commuters.
Future IRT Stations will feature the work of Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) students as the City and CPUT have partnered to produce works for future stations as they are rolled out.
If you are interested in seeing the art works or checking out the excellent and efficient system, the City has declared the next two Fridays (2, 9 July) as Free Fridays.
