The Walt Disney Company SA has unveiled the 10 localised Mickey Mouse statues painted by South African artists that will tour the country to celebrate the 90th birthday of Mickey Mouse on 18 November.
18 November marks 90 years since the first appearance of Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie in November 1928 with a series of worldwide celebrations that will also include South Africa to mark the 9 decades of the Mouse House's most iconic character.
Disney will broadcast special programming Mickey Mouse's birthday on 18 November across its set of Disney channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform and in the days leading up to it on the Disney Channel (DStv 303), Disney XD (DStv 304) and Disney Junior (DStv 309).
The 2-hour American TV special, Mickey's 90th Spectacular that will be broadcast in the United States on 4 November, will also be shown later this year on M-Net (DStv 101) with the special to celebrate the character's 90-year history that will be filled with star-studded musical performances, tributes and never-before-seen short films.
In a local design project, Disney Africa asked 10 South African artists to apply their own inspiration and artistic interpretation to 182 centimetre high Mickey Mouse statues.
Each Mickey Mouse statue has been designed, painted and crafted to show each artist's unique take on the mouse and range from vivid colour palettes, spray paint graffiti stylings, to pantsula outfits and shweshwe prints.
The 10 local artists who each painted a Mickey Mouse include Cassius Khumalo, Colbert Mashile, Dominic Tshabangu, Lee Scott Hempson, Louis van den Heever, Nika Mtwana, Phumzile Buthelezi, Toni Bico, Trevor Coleman and Welcome Danca.
"For nine decades Mickey Mouse has bound generations together more than any other animated character," says Christine Service, the senior vice president and country manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa.
"His iconic status and global appeal has also inspired countless artists over the decades. The Mickey the True Original Art Collaboration continues this inspiration but with a truly South African interpretation of Mickey's charm and universal appeal."
"No matter what age, every person has a connection with Mickey Mouse and when Disney approached Art Eye to collaborate on this venture, we were thrilled to be given the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Damien Hirst, Diego Rivera and so many more who were inspired by this character," says Ty Selmon, the director of Art Eye Gallery.
"To give this unique local take on Mickey allows us to give him an honorary South African status, bringing to life the unique and eye-catching interpretation, sights and imagery that only this country can produce."
Disney says South African fans can share their Mickey Mouse moments on social media during November with the hashtag #Mickey90Africa.
Cassius Khumalo's Mickey
"My Mickey is inspired by a highly aesthetic African group of people or tribe. Their styles of creating face masks and body paint are an important part of festivals and ceremonies within the within the tribal symbolism."
"Both sexes, including children, decorate their faces and bodies with chalk and ochre to boost visual appeal, also increasing chances of finding love or to scare off rivals."
Colbert Mashile's Mickey
"My Mickey symbolically reflects the African context through the patterns and colours - I am 'Africanising' through pattern and colour. Mickey has become a mystical creature in this sculpture, much like those I have come to depict in the works I have created previously."
"He has a very strong standing in the African context, rendered through contemporary texturing and patterning."
Dominic Tshabangu's Mickey
"My Mickey Mouse reflects both contemporary sensibilities and African traditional patterns with Ndebele-influenced beadwork on his legs, with an assortment of colour and patterns."
"The pants are rendered with real-life African fabrics. I have used my collage techniques but with fabric to create interesting patterns on my African Mickey. Mickey's face is painted to look as though he is wearing an African mask, reminiscent of facial sacrification and ritual painting."
"I have really worked with a number of techniques that I usually use in my work, so that my Mickey Mouse shares a connection to the themes of my work."
Lee Scott Hempson's Mickey
"Mickey is a symbol of popular culture whose worldwide name is instantly recognisable and a source of artistic inspiration for many."
"Mickey is also a storyteller and in keeping with this theme, I have drawn my inspiration from the 'conversational' Dutch Wax cloths and our local Shweshwe. The sculpture is collaged with fabrics, hand-painted textile patterns and the word 'hello' in all our languages and motifs."
"The South Africa I love is all about vibrant colours, patterns and shapes."
"Our Rainbow Nation's sunny exuberance combines easily with Mickey who, of course, personifies fun and playfulness."
"I wanted to celebrate our magnificent fauna and flora with the different animal patterns and proteas. His shorts and shoes scream Proudly South African. The soccer-fan sunglasses, buttons and beads are, well ... just for fun!"
Nika Mtwana's Mickey
"Mickey Mouse is a pantsula through and through."
"He loves expressing himself by singing and dancing. He is the definition of an active and energetic free spirit, and that is also what Pantsula stands for."
"I decided to give Mickey the opportunity to experience the ultimate form of African self-expression and originality, and so, he has to look the part!"
Phumzile Buthelezi's Mickey
"My Mickey is wearing Umblaselo, which is a traditional men's outfit for celebrations and events."
"It was popular with the Maskandi musical groups who wore it while performing. It seems fitting for me to dress an entertainer like Mickey in this outfit."
Toni Bico's Mickey
"Mickey the African son! Africa is known for the sun which shines most of the year, the fresh water and for its vast savannahs."
"Mickey is covered in sun rays and which shine upon African waters - a son of Africa."
"The use of stylised, abstract elements to denote the sun and water is a reflection of my unique style."
Trevor Coleman's Mickey
"My artwork has always been a reflection of the African context and I have taken my main inspiration from the colours I have seen all around Africa on my extensive travels."
"My Mickey Mouse is an exploration of my love for colour and for the African continent."
Welcome Danca's Mickey
"My inspiration for Mickey Mouse started when I was very young, watching him in black-and-white cartoons."
"Mickey Mouse is educational and accommodates young and old alike, from all nations - I share him with my kids and his family nature makes my whole family smile and happy!"
