Invented Mythologies

The steel sculpture was inspired by Jahangeer’s interest in the idea of the Genius Loci — the spirit of place. The work draws on a wide range of experiences and references, triggered by the artist's direct observation of the planned context for the work. On the one hand, the work was partly inspired by the sight of two dragonflies over the Jukskei River which runs through the precinct, which in turn let to a chain of associations that brought together characters from two different South African plays: Master Harold and the Boys (Athol Fugard) who taught the wind to fly, and Gcina Mholpe’s Have you seen Zandile? who saw the birth of rain when the water grew wings and started to fly.

The artist explains these references in the following way: “While Master Harold was teaching the wind to fly, Zandile was going down to the river to fetch water. Zandile witnessed the wind learning to fly, and rushed to the water to tell it the story. But before she could finish her story, the water became so excited that it grew wings and started to fly and rain was born.”