Madiba tapestry at airport
Giant display of celebrated hero to welcome tourists to Cape Town
INTERNATIONAL visitors arriving at Cape Town International Airport will soon be greeted by a “Flying Madiba” – a six by three metre tapestry suspended in the international arrivals hall. MEC for Economic Opportunities Alan Winde welcomed the plan to hang the large tapestry – woven by Atelier Pinton in Aubusson, France – at the airport later this year.
Amnesty International announced last week that the tapestry would be unveiled in December.
Winde said: “This is a fitting tribute to Madiba, displayed prominently so as to welcome international visitors to our country. The tapestry will be unveiled on December 10, 2015, which is International Human Rights day. Madiba is one of the world’s most celebrated human rights activists.”
In a statement, Winde’s department said the Mandela tapestry project was “a partnership between Art for Amnesty and the Cape Town International Airport, and is endorsed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation”.
The project has been backed and funded by Bono and Edge of U2, John Legend, Peter Gabriel, Sting and Yoko Ono.
It’s the latest development in Project Khulisa, the Western Cape’s “growth strategy”.
The unveiling of the tapestry goes handin-hand with the department of economic opportunities’ proposal to develop a Nelson Mandela heritage tourism route.
The route will trace Madiba’s journey in the Western Cape and includes sites such as Robben Island, Drakenstein and Pollsmoor correctional facilities, City Hall and Parliament.