Local marine photographer Rainer Schimpf and renowned painter and video Artist Alison Williams from Port Elizabeth, recently joined forces to create a new face of Nelson Mandela who passed away at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg at 8:50 pm on Thursday 5 December 2013.
Using marine images taken in and around the Eastern Cape and Algoa Bay, Schimpf and Williams assembled the “Face of the Nation” using more that 10000 individual pictures to create the image of Nelson Rolihlala Mandela’s smiling face you see below.

Rainer says; “These individual images represent the character and nature of the Eastern Cape. Also included are some images from other places within SA and cities that Madiba visited during his lifetime.”
The aim of this extraordinary image is to leave a legecy of the connections between nature and Madiba who grew up in the rural areas that he so loved. Schimpf is convinced that Mandela had the opportunity and time to spend time out at sea as well. Events like the Sardine Run along the Transkei Coast have had a cultural influence on the Xhosa which is also reflected in some of the images.
The selection of images created by Alison and Rainer will be printed on Acrylic in sizes ranging from 60 x 80 to 200 x 150cm.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Rhino Fund and Ocean Messengers NGO.
Contact Alison Williams to learn more.
Alan Straton
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