EMIHLE MBANGATHA
Local artist Nathan Sanan is using his talent to restore positivity to East London through vibrant murals inspired by the city’s natural beauty.
Sanan, who has been creating murals for 12 years, recently completed a stunning mural of a crowned crane in Gonubie.
The mural, which took six months of planning and five days to complete, was part of the Project Yeyethu initiative, led by Sune Moolman and Debbie Theron of Pam Golding Properties.
The inspiration came from crowned cranes, Duke and Duchess, who live in the Gonubie Bird Sanctuary.
“The painting of this mural was a solo effort, however, the initiative was a huge team effort.”
Sanan’s murals aim to beautify East London, with another notable work being Your Journey, Our Destination at Vincent Park, celebrating the diverse life journeys of Eastern Cape residents.
Moolman and Theron said they collaborated with Sanan to create the mural to celebrate Gonubie’s natural beauty and shape the community’s image in a positive light.
The pair said: “Given the that the mural is on the reservoir in Gonubie Main Road, the canvas brings the town’s heritage to life and adds a touch of art and culture to the lives of the residents.
“This makes the Gonubie Main Road a scenic journey through the heart of the town.
Gonubie Bird Sanctuary chair Tony Wessels said the mural represented the heart and spirit of the sanctuary, which hopes to restore its wetlands and continue its role as a conservation hub.
Thanks to Wessels’ NPO, the Gonubie Bird Sanctuary reopened this year after 30 years of neglect. The NPO hopes to secure public and private investment to create a water estuary and flood plains. Local conservationists, Dr Philip Whittington and Chris Pretorius, emphasised the importance of preserving the sanctuary to protect local bird populations and provide education on conservation issues.
