Mobile A2K

Culture and Safety in Africa

Brick Benches


Name of Artwork
Brick Benches

Location and Accessibility
The brick benches are spread across the suburbs of Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville. In Yeoville they can be found on Rockey street, between Cavendish and Raymond Streets. In Hillbrow and Berea, they are in a variety of locations:
• At the Clarendon bus stop, between Paul Nel and Jager streets
• At the intersection of Jager and Banket streets
• At the intersection of Catherine and Prospect Roads
• At the intersection of Abel Road and Tudhope Avenue
• At the intersection of Kotze and Catherine Streets
Care should be taken when walking through the Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville suburbs.

Level of Significance
Significant Group

About the Artwork
Part of the first phase of the Hillbrow-Berea-Yeoville Public Art Programme, these benches were based on a concept developed by Kenny Sonono, solicited through a series of workshops and an exhibition convened by Trinity Session/Ngwedi Design. The artist was interested in the symbol of the brick in the context of the large quantity of new construction and infrastructure development underway across the city. Cardboard and tape versions of the benches were placed throughout the HBY area in order to test the responses of users of the spaces. 20 bricks were subsequently cast in concerete by the company IQNC and placed across ten approved sites. The poet Prophet JD conducted research in the area, and developed a series of poetic phrases and statements that were then stencilled onto the brick benches before they were sealed. Some examples of the texts:

Towards the morning beauty,
Listen to the shadows that alone can tell the dream.

Bosigong Utlwella meriti ya ditoro
O leboge moso o montle

Entathakusa uhlale ulalele amathunzi
axoxa amaphupho a manandi ngokukhanya kwelanga

Even if you could be blind
Never quit to follow your feet
It is a way of life

Le ga bofofu bo ka go fitlhela
tsepama tumelong,
Eo, ke tsela ya botshelo

Noma ngabe uyimpuputhe ungayeki ukulandela imizwa yakho,
Ingoba lokho kuyinxenye yempilo yakho

With fine spell, words alone can save the human race

Le ga bofofu bo ka go fitlhela
tsepama tumelong,
Eo, ke tsela ya botshelo

Noma ngabe uyimpuputhe ungayeki ukulandela imizwa yakho,
Ingoba lokho kuyinxenye yempilo yakho

With fine spell, words alone can save the human race