The Ridge School is a leading independent school for boys in Johannesburg. Straddling the peak of the rocky Westcliff ridge, it covers some 16 acres, with views over Parktown and the surrounding suburbs. It was established in 1919, and for the 100 year Centenary celebration, Marco Cianfanelli was commissioned to create a sculptural work that expresses some of the values the school holds dear.
The resulting sculpture is an expression of the notions of connectedness, growth, and the tensions between individualism and solidarity. Representing the figure of a singular boy from the focal view, it transforms into a tree-like sculpture of many branches when viewed from the side. Each individual leaf carries the name of a student, teacher, or staff member at the school in 2019.
Constructed of rusted mild steel, it sits on a newly constructed plinth that helps to form a small pedestrian-friendly urban plaza.
Completed: 2019
Location: Westcliff, Johannesburg, South Africa
© Marco Cianfanelli
