Origins of Wire Art
Origins of Wire Art
There are few things that can lay claim to being truly and uniquely South African. Nelson Mandela, surely one of the most loved and respected (not to mention the coolest!) political figures of all time, is one. Wire art, the sculpting and crafting of works of art using wire, beads, tin cans and other recycled goods as a medium, is another. As the former is already pretty well-known in the international arena, we decided to focus our efforts on introducing the latter, the dynamic genre of wire art, to the world. It is our wish that in a few years time, when Mr Mandela's name comes up in conversation, the response will be "Sure I've heard of him. He's the great man from that country where they make all that funky wire art..."
Origins
No-one is exactly certain how wire art came about. The most likely origins of this art-form are the tranquil hills of Maputoland and Zululand in rural Northern Kwazulu-Natal, in the North-East corner of South Africa. For many years, due to a lack of resources to buy proper toys, the young herdboys of these regions have been fashioning their own out of discarded coathanger wire, tin cans and whatever else they can get their hands on. Their ingenuity is quite amazing, and it is not an uncommon sight to see one of these boys steering a fully functional, made-to-scale model car crafted solely from discarded materials, complete with independent axles, fully functional steering column and a keen attention paid to details such as licence plates, headlights and in some cases, optional extras like mag wheels and free-flow exhausts. It wasn't long before older inhabitants of the area, recognising the uniqueness and marketability of these wire toys, began making their own wire creations and selling them to tourists and visitors to the region - and thereon the vibrant medium of wire art was born -. 
Today
Today, this genre is a thriving and legitimate art form in its own right, with many 'wiremasters' supporting their families by selling their creations on street corners, at craft markets, in shops and selected art galleries. Products range from working wire radios in a number of shapes and sizes, to CD stands, keyrings, wire picture frames, baskets, vases, wine racks, egg cups and beaded sculptures. In fact the scope and range of wire art products is almost limitless. A common thread running through all these creations, and one which sets them apart from most other art forms, is the fact that the majority of wire art is designed not only with ornamental value in mind but also to be functional in one way or another. These are genuine, original hand-crafted examples of African art that not only look great, but often also serve a purpose in the home or office.
