We are thrilled to be able to share with you, our very own Obelisk complete with Aluminium capstone, here in the North-Eastern suburbs of Gauteng This Obelisk was erected in July 2007. This is the only Obelisk of this kind that we are aware of in Gauteng.
About the Obelisk in the Boulevard:
Simon Stone is the famous artist that designed and created this Obelisk. Although born in 1952 in the Lady Grey area of the Cape Province, Simon Stone is synonymous with Johannesburg. He has often been referred to as the ‘poet of the inner city and the old mine dumps surrounding Johannesburg’. Stone may well have captured the city, but it is equally true to say that Joburg captivated Stone. A vivid connection between the city and the artist is tangibly displayed in a proliferation of public mosaics. Stone completed the mosaic work on the obelisk at the Fricker and Chaplin Roads’ intersection in the Illovo Boulevard. It is a skyward pointing, uniquely creative artistic edifice – a central focal point in the Boulevard. It proudly announces one’s arrival at the Illovo destination.
Simon explains the mosaic work on the obelisk as a series of icons and pictographs of the “things of this world” which are “easy to read”. He steered clear of alien items or obscure symbology. People observing the obelisk will be able to readily identify with the images. Stone carefully and with consideration to place, people and context installed visual data and “archetypal images”. These are “images that popped up” and are found in our “current life”. There is a cassette, a factory, a Kenwood, a hamburger, a mosquito. Some of the pictographs are evocative of South Africa and the fabric of our lives; a mielie, knobkerrie, elephant, some Ndebele designs and a Zulu shield, various Bushmen and an African mask. A nod to the violence in our culture in the form of the ubiquitous gun and bullet, but otherwise, Stone aimed to keep the work “light and quite fresh”. No dark background and gloomy motifs – instead a night sky, a seascape, the number xx which is a “nice age to be” according to Stone.
There are several universal images in the shape of the fleur de lis, a Greek temple, the scale, a horseshoe, some dice and chess pieces which confirm and place Joburg as a vibrant modern city within the global context – yet the very heart and epicentre, one might argue, of the African Renaissance. Few words appear on the obelisk – Love and Mozart and a nod to the Old Dutch East India Company logo. Stone decided to stay away from branding and images directly attributable to commercial concerns. He is dismissive of the amount of time it took to research and prepare this astounding work of art. Basically, it “took a while” – but this does not nearly allow for the hours spent observing, researching, drawing the initial concept, creating the intricate mosaic details and then adhering it all onto the obelisk on a scaffold that seemed precarious and felt to him as though the bottom had springy “rubber feet”. Stone felt sure the obelisk itself was swaying! There are just shy of 200 “little pictures” – a veritable visual buffet. The best way to enjoy this public art work is to see it on foot and like the “couple doing a boogie” – enjoy the light side of life and take time to smile a bit before walking on to your next destination.
Information provided courtesy Everard Read Gallery and Simon Stone.
We were not able to find a suitable hiding spot at this beautiful work of art, as it is a very high Muggle zone. But we wanted to share this with you, so we have created a multi cache that will take you to enjoy the Obelisk and then allow you to move on to a nearby park to find the final hide. Enjoy!
Task to get the Final Co-ords:
Go to the listed co-ordinates and park in a safe place (the road is wide either side of the Obelisk so you can park away from the turning circle and take a short stroll to observe the pictures at close range).
Find the three sets of numerical digits(one numerical digit per side), for example, 8; 29; 56 (these are not the digits, just examples of what you need to look for!).
Arrange the three numbers into a date format YY MM DD, there is only one correct solution. Once you have a valid date, then solve the final co-ords where Y=YY, M=MM and D=DD
Then, calculate the following
S26 [M+1].[D-10][D-5][(Y-2)/10]
E28 [(Y+3)/15].[M-1][M][M+1]
The cache is hidden in a near by park. Please park at the co-ords provided.
Please do not put Trackables or Travellers in this cache. Rather "visit" them when you log your find!