His lion will roar
2007-03-22
THERE might be uncertainty about Green Point stadium’s readiness for 2010, but Paarl’s famous tree trunk sculptor has no doubts - his lion will roar for the Soccer World Cup.
Sand Kaleanqo stomped into fame when he carved a lifesize hippopotamus on an open lot in Dal Josaphat, in full view of passing motorists.
After months of chopping and cutting, Sand was happy with the finished product and he was ready for his next sculpture. He had already scoured the bank of the Berg River and found a suitable tree trunk.
This time the uprooted trunk was to become a larger than life fish eagle.
Carving the bird took even longer than his hippo, with motorists making detours to watch the progress.
When the eagle was finally completed, the artist watched in horror as the appreciative daytime crowds were replaced by vandals at night.
“I asked the municipality to help move my sculptures,” Sand said.
“People were painting the eagle and having drinking parties all over the hippo. I could not see that happen.”
The heavy sculptures have now found a temporary resting place in the gardens of Diemersfontein. They will not mind moving to a good home, Sand says, should he get a buyer.
But meanwhile he has found “the “perfect tree”, as the Angolan artist sees a huge uprooteed bluegum on the estate.
He plans to start hacking away at the bark shortly, because he wants his maned lion to be roaring in 2010.
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