The South African Civil Society Information Service
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
11 Apr 2012
American graffiti artist, ABOVE, was recently in Johannesburg. It is reported that he “convinced the traders at Johannesburg’s Jewel City - the southern hemisphere's largest exporter of diamonds…to let him paint a wall with the slogan ‘Diamonds Are A Woman’s Best Friend’.” But ABOVE wasn’t entirely honest with the owners of Jewel City and made an addition to the mural in protest against blood diamonds, which it is claimed are traded at this location.
He added “…And A Man’s Worst Enemy” to the mural.
ABOVE says, “I was able to get away with this diamond wall heist because I told the owners I would paint in big letters ‘Diamonds are a woman’s best friend’ on the exterior of their building. The owners loved the idea and all quickly agreed. The next day I had started painting but what the owners didn’t know is that I lied to them and was hijacking their wall. Like any premeditated robbery, situations are not what they seem and shit can flip from best friends to worst enemies in a few moments.”
Jo’burgers keen to see the mural in its original form are advised to head down to the Arts on Main precinct as soon as possible to view it before it gets edited/whitewashed -- if it hasn’t already been. Otherwise, its been preserved for posterity in the clip above.
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