‘Together Apart’ floor mural u

Photo: Supplied

‘Together Apart’ floor mural unveiled in Sandton [photos]

A new mural in the heart of the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton allows people to hang out while adhering to social distance guidelines.

‘Together Apart’ floor mural u

Photo: Supplied

Renowned musician, chef and Mi Casa frontman, J’Something recently unveiled a new ‘together apart’ floor mural at the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton.

Photo: Supplied

Following social distancing guidelines

It is said that J’Something made a surprise appearance on Sunday, 30 August – much to the surprise and delight of the shoppers milling past and the patrons at restaurants sitting alongside an innovative piece of art that’s as “functional as it is fine to look at and fun to interact with”.

The surprise, by Stella Artois, was unveiled in order to commemorate the launch of the installation and to celebrate the return of the restaurant and hospitality industry after the national lockdown was moved to level 2.

Entitled, “Together Apart in the Life Artois”, AB InBev’s High End Brand Director for Africa, Marsha Kumire, elaborates on the thinking behind the piece:

“Our hope is that the mural will encourage people to still savour life’s beautiful moments together, whilst following the social distancing guidelines that must become the new norm for the next while at least. We chose Nelson Mandela Square’s piazza for the location as it’s an iconic space that has always sought to bring people together… and now still can.”

Guided by illustrated circles…

The artwork was localised by South African illustrator, Lauren Mitchell. Measuring  21m x 38m in size, the mural offers a colourful and welcome respite from the usual red masking tape and foreboding dark circles most other retail spaces stick on the floor to enforce social distancing.

On Instagram, Lauren said: “‘Together Apart’ is all about encouraging us to get back together in the safest way possible, to savour those special moments with the ones we hold close. This piece has been a dream to collaborate on and so close to my heart in using creativity in innovative ways to bring us closer.”

Those who live in Gauteng are invited to head over to Nelson Mandela Square during the next month to see the artwork, take a few pics, and celebrate the fact that while we still have to keep our social distance, we are essentially “all in this together”.