Mosaics a marvel

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - If you have not visited the largest tunnel mosaic project in the Southern Hemisphere, you should do so.

It is at Pinnacle Point estate, Mossel Bay. The creators of the project are hoping to set at least one Guinness World Record with it. The whole project will use about three million mosaic tiles.

PHOTO GALLERY: Mossel Bay Advertiser visit the mosaic tunnel at Pinnacle Point

One passes through a man-made tunnel from the Pinnacle Point Golf Course 18th green to go to the Pinnacle Point caves and to the St Blaize hiking trail.

PHOTO GALLERY: Largest tunnel mosaic project in the Southern Hemisphere

It was decided to decorate the 55-metre tunnel with mosaic panels, to beautify it.

And so a four to six-year project began.

Mossel Bay mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé officially opened the tunnel mosaic project at a launch on Heritage Day, 24 September, last year.

The mosaic panels are both educational and aesthetic.

Walking towards the sea, the tunnel is divided into a left and right side. The mosaics on the right celebrate nature and sea life.

Those on the left comprise scenes from prehistory to the present and include national emblems and the face of Nelson Mandela.

A special feature of the mosaics is the beautiful fynbos, executed in tiny tiles.

Creative force

Artist Chrissie Olivier is the creative force behind the project. Although she has no formal training, she has been "painting ever since I can remember".

Olivier notes: "I sold my first painting when I was 12. I do portraits in oils mainly."

She sketched her ideas for the panels and the mosaic volunteers are following these sketches, which are stuck to the walls of the tunnel.

She notes that her friend, Annemie van der Merwe, and she were having lunch one day and talking about the tunnel and decided: "Lets do something there."

Olivier was inspired by Antoni Gaudí's mosaics in Barcelona, Spain.

"Ever since I saw them I wanted to mosaic a huge space."

She is especially pleased with the face of Mandela, which took her three to four weeks to complete. "I counted out the blocks at home."

If you would like to support this project, being undertaken by volunteers and residents of Pinnacle Point, contact Amos van der Merwe (amos@etime.co.za). Donations will be accepted gratefully.

There is also the opportunity for companies to "purchase" a panel and be given a plaque acknowledging the company. The project is being run by the Pinnacle Point Arts and Culture Association, a registered non-profit company.

Photos: Grey Stopforth