Bronzed honour
Refreshments served in enamel cups, crate seats, and a group of men who sang work songs as if they were on duty underground.
This was part of the ambience set for guests who had come to Wits to bear witness to the official unveiling of the “unknown miner” statue situated at the entrance of the recently renovated Chamber of Mines building.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Yunus Ballim explained the significance of the statue donated by Louis Wald, the son of the creator Herman Wald, and its relation to the celebrations of the institution’s growth.
“The statue shows the significance that the mining industry has had on the country’s economy and the history of the institution” said Ballim.
Part of the sculpture’s symbolic meaning is that it pays homage to the unsung heroes who contributed to the mining industry.
The statue is the first of the two sculptures that were donated to the institution as part of the Wits90 celebrations.
Related articles: http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/showcasing-his-father-s-sculptures-1.1186233?ot=inmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot
Photos by: Jay Caboz @jaycaboz
