A Hill College student, Joshua Behrens (16), who created a magnificent art piece of former president, Nelson Mandela with recycled cans - has been commissioned to produce two more pieces of national and historic pride, former president FW de Klerk and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, by CAN manufacturing company, Nampak Bevcan.
The Grade 10 aspiring Art student, won in the Collect-a-Can 2011 CANS Craze Competition, held in November. The competition encourages schools to build a structure out of 300 or more cans in the most creative way possible and the winning entrants were awarded with cash prizes. For the first time in the history of the Competition an individual learner was awarded a prize for their entry, and the R15000 prize money was collected by Joshua for his depiction of the global icon, Nelson Mandela - True Greatness.
Josh's art design was then displayed at Canvironment Week during The Green Expo held at the (CTICC) and was a standout to say the least as it captured everyone's attention. Nelson Mandela - True Greatness was meticulously crafted, with different cans; the face was made out of Castle Milk Stout cans with the navy blue, crème and rich gold colours. The slogan 'true greatness' on the Milk Stout Cans, gave birth to the name of the piece and he used the red Coca-Cola cans to bring out Nelson Mandela's face.
Klaus Hass, Sales & Marketing Director for Nampak Bevcan, said: "We at Nampak Bevcan believe that every child has a right to an education and are dedicated to improving the academic resources our country has to offer. I would like to congratulate Josh and commend him for the inspirational Nelson Mandela piece, which simply, lights up your heart when you look at it. As a group, we saw something special in this young man and felt the need to nurture it - hence the commissioning of the other two art pieces.
"In the end, the three pieces will serve to celebrate three phenomenal men this country has ever had and we are delighted to offer Josh an opportunity to be part of this amazing experience, concluded Hass."
Josh, speaking from his mother's house said, "I am grateful for the honour bestowed on me and confidence displayed by Nampak Bevcan. I worked really hard on the Nelson Mandela - True Greatness piece, with huge amounts of passion, time, and diligence. The end product is nothing but a labour of love.
"He is a true inspiration and I am glad he was my first subject and look forward to producing work of the other two exceptional former Nobel Peace Prize winners, to hang side-by-side him. I have always been interested in art, as such started drawing my first airplane when I was just knee high. My mother tells me, I had an inquisitive disposition, which led to my love for drawing everywhere in the house, no piece of furniture was spared, he concluded."
Perhaps it is that appreciation for things creative and out-of-the-ordinary that has nudged him from sports paths to artistic pursuits. But what art gives to Josh is universal: growth, contemplation, inquiry, and solace.
The production of the two commissioned art pieces will take many long hours, lots of hands on deck and a spirit like no other to finish in record time. Informal can collectors from Zwide Township have been pulled in to help collect cans from different sources including, recycling plants and the local beverage producers.
Other materials to be used are a chipboard base, a hot glue gun for each and every small piece and resin to cover and secure the pieces in order to give the pieces the longevity it deserves.
PICTURE: Atit Bhatia, President of Canvironment Week and Joshua Behrens, with the Nelson Mandela - True Greatness art piece, at The Green Expo
