On the 25th Anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison Art for
Amnesty and the Cape Town International Airport today announced that they would
partner in the creation of a giant tapestry in his memory. The tapestry
(measuring approximately 30 square metres) will hang in the 'meeters and
greeters' area of the international arrivals hall of Cape Town International
Airport and will be funded by international artist supporters of Amnesty
International.
Announcing the project, which has the approval of the
Nelson Mandela Foundation, Deidre Davids of Cape Town International Airport said
that it is indeed a privilege to be part of this very profound celebration.
Madiba’s footprints lie deep in Cape Town and this is a wonderful way in which
we can honour him. We believe that the tapestry will receive a positive reaction
from all visitors to the airport.
Art for Amnesty Founder Bill Shipsey
warmly welcomed the decision of Cape Town International Airport to partner on
this project and the opportunity it gave to Amnesty International and its artist
supporters to pay tribute to the late President Mandela. "Nelson Mandela was an
inspiration to all who struggle for freedom, justice and the protection of human
rights. This tapestry will be a small reminder to all who pass through Cape Town
International Airport of the man and the debt of gratitude we owe to him now and
for all time”, said Shipsey.
Nelson Mandela received Amnesty
International's most prestigious Award, the 'Ambassador of Conscience' Award, in
2006. It was presented to him in Johannesburg by South African Nobel Literature
Laureate, the late Nadine Gordimer.
The tapestry, which will take
several months to complete, will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony at Cape
Town International Airport scheduled for the end of this year. Further details
will be announced in the coming months.
This is the third such Art for
Amnesty memorial tapestry project. The previous two were dedicated to the late
Czech President, dissident and playwright, Vaclav Havel and Irish poet and Nobel
Literature Laureate, Seamus Heaney and were funded by musicians Bono and Edge of
U2, Paul Simon, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Yoko Ono.
Cape Town
International Airport is the gateway to the beautiful Mother City. It is
Airports Company South Africa’s 2nd largest and Africa’s 3rd largest airport.
It is also Africa’s premier tourist and VIP destination and has established a
reputation as Africa’s international award-winning airport, consistently
performing among the best in the world for service in its category.
Art
for Amnesty is Amnesty International's global artist engagement programme
bringing together artists of all disciplines their management and supporters in
a collaborative effort to support and promote the cause of human rights.
Amnesty International ('Amnesty') is a global
non-governmental organisation focused on human rights with over 7 million
members and supporters around the world. Amnesty conducts research and campaigns
to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those
whose rights have been violated. For more information please contact:
Deidre Davids
Communications
Manager
Telephone Number: +27 (0) 82 377 4521
Email: Deidre.Davids@airports.co.za OR Deborah Francis
Head of Department- Communications
Telephone Number:
071 686 2740
Email: Deborah.Francis@airports.co.za |
