Vincent Park Shopping Centre has once again been recognised for its excellent marketing initiatives, securing three awards at the annual Footprint Marketing Awards, including a silver award for the Rugby World Cup mural, painted by popular East London street artist Nathan Sanan.
Vincent Park stood out as the only Eastern Cape mall to receive awards at the prestigious event for the second year in a row. The other two awards include a silver for its “Celebrating East London — Its People, Places, and Positivity” campaign and a bronze for its “Outdoor Cinema & Picnic — A Movie Under the Stars” initiative.
Situated on the corner of Devereux and Surrey Road, the vibrant art piece features the faces of East London Springbok players Luthando Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Jaden Hendrickse and captain Siya Kolisi.
The mural was initially going to be a celebration of East London sports, but when the Springboks won the World Cup, Sanan saw an opportunity to create a celebratory mural.
“The stars had aligned. This was a perfect opportunity to celebrate the victory. The Sunday was manic, as we aimed to have the mural completed before the trophy tour.
“After a quick conversation with Vincent Park, we decided to change the initial mural, to rather celebrate the players who were from the East London area and their captain, I believed this was a manageable amount of work given that I only had three days to complete it in,” Sanan said.
Sanan has created many art pieces on various walls and monuments around the city, with members of the public showing appreciation for his art as he works.
“Working in the public domain leads to a ton of feedback while I’m working. Each positive interaction was a little bit of fuel that helped me stay energised and make the deadline. Whether it was a hoot from a passing car, a fist bump from a pedestrian or the great conversations that were had with people who had stopped to take it in, it all was thoroughly appreciated,” Sanan said.
Centre manager Joseph Paisley praised the Vincent Park team for their dedication to executing meaningful marketing campaigns that resonate with shoppers.
“These awards recognise the hard work and creativity of our team, who continue to find innovative ways to engage with our community.
“We are proud to be the only Eastern Cape shopping centre acknowledged at the Footprint Awards for two consecutive years.
“This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to creating experiences that connect with our shoppers and celebrate the vibrant spirit of Buffalo City,” Paisley said.
