Atlas Juggled

 

I first investigated the Union Buildings and Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The fairly recent statue of Mandela, with his Christlike stance, juggles the figures of Atlas atop the Union Buildings in drawings, collages, and animations.

 

The Mandela statue by Andre Prinsloo and Ruhan van Rensburg (2013) features Madiba with outstretched arms, reminiscent of Jesus Christ in Renaissance works and in contemporary evangelical media, implying that he is a patriarchal god bestowing blessings on his flock. Surrounded by statues of classical gods and Afrikaner leaders, the statue is situated in the gardens of the Union Buildings, in the suburb of Arcadia. The potency of the mythological name is enhanced since it is the seat of government.