November 26, 2007
By Lucille Davie
MOTORING down William Nicol Drive will never be the same again. A 14m high metal artwork has been erected in front of a new residential block, and what was once a road to Sandton City and further, is now an artistic experience.
The artist, who is also an architect, Lewis Levin, specialises in kinetic sculpture - in other words, moving sculpture. And this particular sculpture consists of a large, three-legged, curved structure, looking a little like a wonderful extraterrestrial creature. Within the upper section are several suspended concentric leaves that revolve, catching the light.
Levin was commissioned to do the artwork by Abalengane, a property development and financial services company. The sculpture is outside the new block it has developed, on the corner of William Nicol Drive and Second Avenue in Hyde Park.
There are various ways of viewing Lewis Levin's work
Chief operating officer of Abalengane, Ashruf Kaka, says of the artwork, "We want it to stand out, to enhance the environment and define the area."
The northern suburbs were lacking in any form of public art, so Abalengane wanted to introduce a distinctive artistic feature. The company hoped that prospective buyers would be encouraged to buy into the residential block because of the sculpture.
"We are ecstatic with the result. It is unusual and exceptional."
He explains that in the city centre everything looks the same. "We often blame the architects, but it's the developer's decision too."
Artists' boulevard
What Levin suggested was an "artists' boulevard of monumental sculptures". The developers own a lot of property along the road, and if it erected structures outside these properties, it would achieve a threefold effect: the public would associate the company with artworks, it would create landmarks along the road, and it would give something back to the city, says Levin.
"This would add value to the company … I wanted to create a structure that was both masculine and feminine – an engineering piece that was graceful at the same time, something abstract with curved elements."
Kaka says his company is considering another sculpture, on the corner of Argyle Road and William Nicol Drive in Sandhurst. "We are hopeful that this will catch on. We are used to palm trees and fountains at the entrances to buildings, but let's put something unique in place."
He is keen on the boulevard idea, but would also like to see other developers play a role. He would like to see other major roads sporting artworks, using William Nicol Drive as an example.
Interpretation
Levin says that the metal structure can be interpreted in several ways: it has a nautical shape, similar to a large sail; it can be seen as a Zulu shield; or as a giant Aids ribbon. "People look twice – it transforms throughout the day."
The artist says he is influenced by marine creatures and nautical structures, old astronomical machines, and natural forms like shells, all shapes that are obvious in his latest artwork. "There is a fascinating geometry in these structures. Shells have a strong geometric structure but create a feminine result."
He equates this to a motor car, a masculine item but softened and given a feminine feel with its round shapes. The design of the sculpture took over a year, with several consultants involved, including engineering firm Diamond Engineering, which took three months to manufacture the artwork.
Levin recently completed another public artwork – a 2m tall flat metal structure depicting the face of lawyer Duma Nokwe, in laser cut holes. It's installed outside the Johannesburg High Court on Pritchard Street, one of 10 Johannesburg public artworks commissioned by The Sunday Times as part of its centenary celebrations.
Other projects he's completed include the metal interlinking screens on the west façade of the Constitutional Court building, and similar screens at the Metro Mall taxi rank in the CBD. And, in the Absa Towers North in Main Street in the CBD is the intriguing, magical Mobile City, a two-storey metal mobile depicting the old city of Joburg, balanced with the modern city. The mobile moves slowly, making a cycle every 20 minutes. Levin did the work together with Paul Cawood and Susan Woolf.
He is working on another public artwork, to be placed in Bolton Road, Rosebank - he is keen to see Joburg transformed by public artworks.
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