CITY ART: Joburg breathes new life into the history on its streets
A jazz legend whose shoe is regularly kept polished by a mysterious admirer, giant steel pigeons honouring Johannesburg’s Asian community and the story of Pickhandle Mary are among the pieces of Joburg’s history being brought back to life on its streets.
Johannesburg is breathing new life into the history on its streets through a series of public artworks, monuments, plaques, and storyboards. The Johannesburg Development Agency, in collaboration with the Directorate of Arts, Culture and Heritage, has been restoring four prominent public artworks and replacing or refurbishing 15 blue heritage plaques. New historical storyboards and signage are also being installed across the city.
The revitalization efforts have been ongoing for several years, with the focus changing each year. Previous projects included the restoration of Vilakazi Street and a major revamp of the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum courtyard exhibition. This year, the emphasis has been on the Newtown Cultural Precinct and surrounding historic areas.
Among the restored artworks is the Kippie Moeketsi sculpture, which has been cleaned and repatinated. A QR code has been installed near the sculpture, providing visitors with an extensive profile of Moeketsi and his life. Another notable restoration is the Margaret Mcingana tribute artwork, which replaces a worn and torn canvas with a new interpretation by artist Dbongz.
The city has also turned its attention to significant historical sites, such as Mary Fitzgerald Square, named after labor activist and South Africa's first woman trade unionist. The blue heritage plaque on the square has been replaced, and new storyboards have been mounted, detailing the history of the square and workers' struggles. A steel cut-out depicts Fitzgerald in her bonnet holding a pickhandle.
These efforts aim to preserve and enhance Johannesburg's public heritage, highlighting the city's diverse history and the people who have shaped it.
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