Public Art in South Africa: Bronze Warriors and Plastic Presidents

Public art in post-apartheid South Africa reflects shifting political landscapes and contested histories, as demonstrated by the edited volume 'Public Art in South Africa: Bronze Warriors and Plastic Presidents.' The book reveals how public art serves as a battleground for memory, identity, and nation-building, with traditional monuments giving way to experimental, often ephemeral forms of visual culture. It explores strategies for recontextualizing outdated or ideologically problematic artworks, such as reinvention or creation of new works, while also examining the role of vandalism, ruination, and visual activism in shaping public discourse. The study highlights the tension between inclusive and exclusionary narratives in commemorative art, particularly through the lens of South Africa's complex history of colonialism, apartheid, and liberation politics.

van Eeden, J. (2019). Public Art in South Africa: Bronze Warriors and Plastic Presidents. African Arts, 52(2), 93–94. https://doi.org/10.1162/afar_r_00470