Mosaics at NUM Head-Office

Last Updated: September 26, 2023
Artist

Lesley Kendall, Andrew Lindsay and a mosaic group trained by Lindsay / Kendall from the mines in Klerksdorp. Concept and design coordination: Andrew Lindsay

A Brief History

Black mineworkers were involved in gold mining in Johannesburg from 1886, but were excluded from the white miner’s union for many years, and it was only in 1982 that the NUM was formed. The first leader of the National Union Mineworkers was Cyril Ramaphosa, under whom the union grew rapidly.

Andrew Lindsay was behind numerous union-related creative projects over the years. His first deep work with the unions was with DITSELA, a trade union education project.and then extensive work with the development agency of the NUM. Stephen Faulkner, a long-time union worker in Johannesburg, wrote as follows on the ‘Remembering Drew’ WhatsApp Group (1 Feb 2022): “I have records of 42 union projects of varying degrees over the years in which Andrew Lindsay played a pivotal role, including international trade union work!”

Description

Several mosaic murals and installed on various walls at NUM (National Union of Mineworkers). The mosaics were created for NUM, with words on one mural stating: "DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ALL WORKERS THAT HAVE DIED WORKING IN THE MINING, ENERGY, CONSTRUCTION SECTORS"

Artwork Signage

Black mineworkers were involved in gold mining in Johannesburg from 1886, but were excluded from the white miner’s union for many years, and it was only in 1982 that the NUM was formed. The first leader of the National Union Mineworkers was Cyril Ramaphosa, under whom the union grew rapidly.

Andrew Lindsay was behind numerous union-related creative projects over the years. His first deep work with the unions was with DITSELA, a trade union education project.and then extensive work with the development agency of the NUM. Stephen Faulkner, a long-time union worker in Johannesburg, wrote as follows on the ‘Remembering Drew’ WhatsApp Group (1 Feb 2022): “I have records of 42 union projects of varying degrees over the years in which Andrew Lindsay played a pivotal role, including international trade union work!”

Location & Address

7 Rissik Street, Marshalltown.