Century City Art Trail- John Chapman on Arts Round Up

by Philip | Nov 8, 2024 | Featured | 0 comments

Mpumelelo Bhengu adds to Century City Art Foundation's vision

The Century City Art Trail has a vibrant new work by Mpumelelo Bhengu and John Chapman tell us about the What, Why and Where of this addition to the development of the City.

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John Chapman

Jonathan Chapman is the Chairman of the Century City Art Foundation, which he explains was a project that evolved in his role as Chair of Rabie Properties that developed Century City. They realised that a city is not only about bricks and mortar. It’s also about the glue that holds it all together and creating an environment that people enjoy being in. As a new city, it has no history or statues that tell its story. The establishment of the Century City Art Foundation had a vision – not even sure what the end line is – but to keep adding to the Art Trail.

Every year they do one project, In recent times the Foundation goes out with a Request for Proposals (RFP). Prior to this new mural large mural by Mpumelelo Bhengu, was a 33metres long x 15 metres high installation of 500 faces by Anton Smith along a subway under a major thoroughfare, These two mega projects are quite close to each other and have followed on after the many smaller ones over the past 10 years. Everything is budget driven and they go out each year with a RFP asking for submissions from artists.

This year, from about 15 submissions, the Foundation was unanimous in selecting the work of Mpumelelo Bhengu. The brief for this year, to celebrate the 10th year of the Foundation, with a work based on the theme “I Love Century City”. Mpumelelo’s submission captured the iconic features and the essence of Century City. It has a vibrancy and scale that takes your breath away. It’s very African and very unique. And its large and striking.

How to find it? It’s hard to miss as it is a prominent billboard that can be seen from Main Boulevard, opposite Hillsong Church and facing the parking lot of Virgin gym. It’s also opposite you as you walk out of Chrystal Towers Hotel.