Art Beyond Walls

In total, there are more than forty different public sculptures displayed across the University of Pretoria's campuses. These diverse works are made by distinguished South African artists. 

Edwards is mostly known for his portraiture works with over 154 portraits. Nature and the African landscape are the subjects of many of his works. The sundial created by Edwards, rests on four small tortoises moving outward. The actual dial is inscribed with the Afrikaans words: Ek tel net die sonnige ure", translated in English as "I only count the sunny hours".

The Shielded Man by the artist Anton Smit portrays a sentinel whose purpose is to guard the community and accordingly the University of Pretoria's students, staff and the local community.

Anton Smit's work is known to explore themes of suffering, reconciliation, glory and transformation. Smit makes use of a variety of materials within his works as he aims to evoke emotion with their presence. 

The Red Lechwes by Coert Steynberg can be found in front of the Old Arts Building where the  museums are located. This is also where the sculpture route starts and ends. Graduates usually choose to be photographed in front of this work on their graduation day. 

Coert Steynberg is a renowned South African sculptor who works in stone, marble, bronze, copper and wood. His work is represented internationally. Steynberg is well-known for his commissioned statues however, he’s personal works are more definitive in his style. 

This sculptural fountain was created with the idea of fish as a symbol of knowledge, swimming upstream. According to the artist Sakkie Seoka, the university is an institution of knowledge where students must swim against the current of today in order to achieve a better future.

Sakie Seoka works in a variety of mediums, including bronze and wood. His work is imbedded with symbolism. Seoka's love for sculpture came from his father who were a well known South African artist Dr Phuthuma Seoka.

In this relief panel by Berco Wilsenach, water is depicted three-dimensionally as sustenance and life-giving element in the “fluid” medium of glass. Rather than actual water, glass is used as a means to visually resemble water and a whale skeleton hidden beneath.

Materiality is important in Wilsenach’s art as he explores the urgency of climate change, its effect on the world and the disappearance of significant species. For Wilsenach, glass as a medium is transparent and fragile and accordingly contributes to the notion of the temporality of a natural phenomena.

The University of Pretoria always seeks exciting ways to portray art on campus. Dancing Hare by Guy du Toit is just that. The work creates a playful atmosphere as it is located behind glass in the Musaion (Music Department), in the garden and on the roof of the same building.

In his work, Guy du Toit makes use of a wide range of materials from his direct environment which contributes to the overall meaning of the works.