Donkeys In The Mist - Rob Mellin

Donkeys In The Mist At Kwelera, Eastern Cape - Photography By Rob Mellin

Coming Home

The best thing is to come home before the day ends.

Close to the taxi rank, one evening before the sun went down.

If you have been to Mdantsane you can feel the atmosphere in these pictures. Mellow ! All good !

SILHOUETTES

The lack of transport in African countries, be it public or private, is a big obstacle in competing economically and in many other ways with countries and continents of this world. 

The non-availability of infrastructure and suitable logistics to bring products from the inland to harbors is still a reality today, although many improvements have been made during the last decade. 

And even so the environmental impact and pollution of cars written off in Europe, because they do not comply with environmental regulations in these countries, brought to Africa via ship or land has become a hot and often discussed topic.. Just imagine..

Just imagine you had to walk for miles and miles just to get where you have to be and where you want to be.

Imagine you had to walk for hours to get to school or to the shops to buy groceries for your home.

Imagine you were already tired every day even before arriving at work

And what would your social life look like?

You would be restrained to the area where you live,

to the same place, to the same people,

Or you would be dependent on the good will of others to take you where you want to go.

For the ones who are sitting inside a car driving fast through vast and open country sides,

it might often seem, as if dark silhouettes are appearing at the side of the road coming out of nowhere. Blurry and vague. Silhouettes they are not - just people on foot with their own destination and determined to arrive. 

BRINGING HOME THE WOOD !

A truck loaded with wood on it's way to Mdantsane.

Daily scenes like this inspire me to my wire sculptures.

My art usually reflects scenes of the life I live and the environment I am in at a given moment in time. It is true that I do dream passionately of other places and further adventures.

But in the creative process I am influenced by people, situations, impressions and events that present themselves to me on a daily basis. 

Even words I overhear can stimulate new design ideas.

Wood is still all important in Africa. It means fire, warmth, food, hot tea, being social.

"The Landrover" is a humorous wire art sculpture series with the Landrover as a focal point. 

The Landrover is an institution. It is and will be an icon on the African continent. I am talking about the first models of course. Social patterns have changed and tasks that have been executed by foot are now completed by car.

Cars have liberated millions of tired African feet that have walked for centuries.

This little sculpture is made of recycled wire and carries a heavy load of beautiful driftwood. 

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

I do agree.