You may have seen photos of Marco Cianfanelli’s Release, but nothing can prepare you for the interactive experience of visiting the sculpture in real life. Start your visit to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site in the museum, where tall panels detail the events leading up to his imprisonment on Robben Island. Then, walk down the Long Walk to Freedom pathway, which leads to Cianfanelli’s sculpture. The grass lining the pathway grows taller as you walk, almost completely muffling the sounds of birds and passing cars. Eventually, you’ll reach a marker indicating the exact point from which you can see Mandela’s silhouette in the sculpture. The work is made up of 50 steel columns to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s capture on August 5, 1962. When considered as individual pieces, the sculpture doesn’t quite make sense, but seen from the right place, it all comes into focus. Thought-provoking, indeed. Entry to the museum and sculpture is free, but donations are encouraged.
