Dreams for the future at the Wishing Wall comment count

• News
• February 16, 2010 ∥
• By Shafeeka Anthony

The Wishing Wall is a fluid collage created using Capetonians’ wishes, hopes, dreams and opinions. Photo courtesy Felicia Pattison

Walking up Adderley Street, you’re usually accompanied by wind-blown detritus. But Adderley Street will be surprisingly different for the rest of the week.

An artwork forming part of the Infecting the City Festival, Wishing Wall is a fluid collage created using Capetonians’ wishes, hopes, dreams and opinions, written on sheets of paper taped to the wall.

Landi Raubenheimer and Paul Cooper, the creators of the Wishing Wall installation, often greet passers-by as they make their way to lunch, asking them to contribute to the growing art installation.

“I wish for world peace” reads one note; “I wish Beyoncé visits South Africa” reads another. At first glance, the installation resembles Jerusalem’s Wailing Wall, but in Cape Town, everyone’s business is your business, so at the Wishing Wall, feelings are shared, dreams are expressed and thoughts are freely communicated. Reading your fellow Capetonians’ wishes is almost as much fun as making your own anonymous wish for the future. 

There are eight other performances and two collaborations happening in and around Cape Town’s central business district at various times. Visit the website for the full programme, or call the Africa Centre on +27 (0) 21 422 0468.