Mapping the Ancient Movement of Humanity

The installation, at the entrance of Origins Centre museum, is an artistic impression of Gerardus Mercator’s projection of the earth. The artwork is created by South African sculptor, Walter Oltmann. 

Originally presented in 1569, Mercator’s map became the standard map projection for navigation. It is unique in that north is always up and south down, while local directions and shapes are preserved.

Africa is at the centre of the map and copper wires radiate from the southern part indicating the movement of humankind from Africa to all areas of the world. Archaeological and genetic evidence shows that these movements happened around 1.8 million years ago (Homo erectus),  and 70 000 years ago (Homo sapiens).

The continents, and human history, soar silently above.

The ebb and flow of humans in time and space is expertly shown in the wave-like nature of the artwork.

Aluminium (aluminum) wire is carefully woven and stiched together forming rippling silver sheets.

The copper thread also echoes the thin red line found in many San paintings - the ‘threads of light’ that connect humans to the spirit world.

Walter Oltmann is a South African artist who is well-known as a sculptor and for his work with wire. He has installations in many public spaces, including South Africa's constitutional court.

While wire sculpture is a widespread media employed in South Africa today, Oltmann brings a new technique to working with wire in which he knits the strands together.

The map relays how humans are interconnected and shows the centrality of Africa in human history. It is positioned at the entrance to the Origins Centre, standing as a marker of the museum's ethos.