Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)

© the artist's estate. Image credit: Vincenzo Albano / Art UK

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Notes

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Ian Walters, the sculptor was personally committed to making a colossal bust of Nelson Mandela as the seventieth anniversary of the foundation of the African National Congress (ANC) and as a symbol of the struggle of black South Africans against apartheid. Originally cast in bronze resin in 1982, it was replaced by a bronze cast in 1988. The artist hoped that by making a colossal bust of Nelson Mandela, it would serve as a reminder of the unjust incarceration and a reminder of the struggle that he faced under South Africa's white regime. The bust was based on photographs of Mandela before his imprisonment. In November 1986 the resin cast bust was damaged by arsonists and replaced with the current sculpture.
Title

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)

Date

1982

Medium

bronze resin, bronze, concrete & South African ebony granite

Measurements

H 152 x W (?) x D (?) cm;
Plinth: H 211 x W 102 x D 97 cm

Accession number

SE1_VA_S022

Acquisition method

commissioned by the Greater London Council

Work type

Bust

Owner

Lambeth London Borough Council

Custodian

Lambeth London Borough Council

Work status

extant

Listing status

Grade II (England and Wales)

Unveiling date

28th October 1985

Listing date

28/10/16

Access

at all times

Signature/marks description

on plinth, rear face, towards bottom: SCULPTOR + IAN WALTERS

Inscription description

front face: “THE STRUGGLE IS MY LIFE” / NELSON MANDELA / GAOLED 5th AUGUST 1962 / SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT / 12th JUNE 1964 FOR HIS ACTIONS / AGAINST APARTHEID / ERECTED BY THE GREATER LONDON COUNCIL / UNVEILED BY OLIVER TAMBO / PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS / 28th OCTOBER 1985 / NELSON MANDELA WAS RELEASED / AFTER 27 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT / 11th FEBRUARY 1990 / AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE / 10th DECEMBER 1993 / INAUGURATED PRESIDENT OF THE / REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND / ITS GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY / 10th MAY 1994

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Located at

Belvedere Road, Lambeth

SE1 8XX

Located on the walkway between Hungerford Bridge and the south side of the Royal Festival Hall.