Joburg Art: Artists Use River Waste to Create Public Sculptures

A remarkable transformation is underway along a Johannesburg waterway. Sculptures made from discarded materials now line the banks of the Jukskei River, which is undergoing a major rehabilitation effort.

A collective of local artists, known as the Alexandra River Collective, created these unique artworks. They utilized waste including bricks, old tires, tree trunks, and rocks pulled directly from the river flowing through the Alexandra neighborhood.

Art Inspired by Waste and Collaboration

The operation commenced in Kazuno, a small town situated among forested mountains. This area has experienced a sharp surge in bear sightings. For weeks, residents had been advised to avoid dense woodlands and stay indoors after nightfall to prevent encounters with bears foraging for food near homes.

Sipho Gwala, an artist born and raised in Alexandra, often visits the river specifically to gather rubble for his sculptures. Gwala finds inspiration in the crabs he remembers seeing in the river during his childhood.

He described his process, explaining how he crafted his crab sculptures from building waste and discarded bricks. Gwala noted how illegal dumping contributes heavily to the issue.

Many people renovating their homes throw materials like cement and bricks into the river or onto its banks.

Gwala sees the creation as a partnership with nature. “So, I liked the concept of working with the river. It was a collaboration,” he explained. “Taking the brick that’s eroded by the river, and then making a sculpture with it, as you can see.”

Addressing Degradation and Flooding

Illegal dumping, widespread pollution, and the presence of invasive, non-native species regularly contribute to the degradation and destructive flooding of the Jukskei River. The SUNCASA project actively engages local organizations to improve the river area and mitigate flooding risks.

Chanel Pather, SUNCASA Programme Manager, detailed the initiative’s goals. The purpose of SUNCASA is to implement nature-based solutions.

These solutions aim to mitigate effects like the urban heat island effect and address flooding along the river. Pather stressed the goals of river rehabilitation and urban greening.

Pather explained that urban greening helps counter the intense heat faced by urban cities like Johannesburg. She noted that their work in Alexandra, alongside the Alexandra Water Warriors, focuses on debris management.

This process assists the river’s flow, helping prevent people from getting caught in the current by daily removing large debris and pollutants.

Water Warriors and Art as Therapy

The Alexandra Water Warriors, a large volunteer force comprising over 3,000 members, have dedicated themselves to cleaning the Jukskei River since 2019. SUNCASA supports the Warriors, providing training and salaries as one of its five local partners.

Paul Maluleke, co-founder of the Water Warriors, explained how the cleaning effort provides materials for the sculptures. They ensure the river flows freely. When large tree logs pose a challenge to the water flow, they repurpose them for art installations.

Phumzile Sizakele, a multidisciplinary artist and member of the Collective, has primarily worked on tree trunks pulled from the Jukskei. By blocking the river’s flow, these large pieces of wood contribute to destructive flooding. Sizakele helped create the wooden bird sculptures inspired by hadedas found in the area.

Sizakele finds the artistic process deeply therapeutic. “As I was carving, I actually realised that it’s sort of like therapy for me,” she explained. “Imagine, I’m coming from home, I’m having a stressed day and whatever, and I’m here by the wood, and I’m allowed to hit as hard as I want, and chop it, and damage it, and then create something nice out of it.”

Local youth activist Harry Nakeng expressed his pleasure with the neighborhood’s transformation. He praised the community for removing waste and creating beautiful art.

“So in the afternoon you’ll find a lot of kids playing here, enjoying this area. So it’s just amazing that the park is open,” he said.

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