Created by Winston Luthuli – an artist associated with the Spaza Art collective in Troyeville, the figure of the angel does not reference any particular religion or cultural tradition. The sculpture serves to welcome all to the inner city suburb of Hillbrow.
Made from concrete, the sculpture is elevated on a concrete base which is inscribed with the words ‘liberty’, ‘equality’ and ‘fraternity’ translated into the multitude of local, continental and international languages spoken in the ‘Afropolitan’ suburb of Hillbrow. In this way, the artwork also serves to welcome the inhabitants of Hillbrow to the realm of the Constitutional Court. The title of the work also suggests an oblique and humorous reference to the spectacular Antony Gormley sculpture of the same name located in Gateshead in the North East of England – which has a similar basic form.
The presence of the Angel of the North serves as a kind of sentinel, and is incongruous with what one might expect to find in this part of Joburg. It does not represent any particular religion, but rather evokes a “higher state of being”.
Created by Winston Luthuli – an artist associated with the Spaza Art collective in Troyeville, the figure of the angel does not reference any particular religion or cultural tradition. The sculpture serves to welcome all to the inner city suburb of Hillbrow.
A culmination of research gathered over many years, the Online Johannesburg Heritage Register is being launched on Nelson Mandela Day 18 July 2025.
Among the many heritage sites featured is Chancellor House, the downtown offices of Mandela and Tambo Attorneys in the 1950s. After having been vacant and shuttered for more than a decade, this iconic building is being revived and brought to life once again as offices for the Community Development Department, which oversees the City’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Services.
