PHOTO: Joe McNally

Erhardt Thiel is a photographer and artist who was inspired to create the installations as a way for people to identify themselves within Madiba’s legacy.

His vision is to take the world’s smallest museum, one of his carefully constructed structural conversational installations, and turn it into the world’s largest museum thus ensuring that the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela is spread around the globe by placing a sculpture in as many locations as possible.

Thiel wanted to create a project that could actively get people to associate themselves with the value systems of South Africa’s former president.

In naming the site or discussing it, we must use the words “I” and “Madiba” and thus opens our minds to finding ways in which we can emulate his values. As a student Thiel photographed Madiba in 1991 when Madiba spoke at Stellenbosch University for the first time.

Madiba spoke through a megaphone, and Thiel sees the iMadiba Project as a megaphone for Nelson Mandela’s legacy; a way to amplify his legacy. Stellenbosch University is also Thiel’s alma mater.

Thiel views these micro museums as “listeners’ corners” rather than “speakers’ corners”; it is where people from all walks of life can get to know and understand each other in the spirit of acceptance.

Thiel spent more than two decades as a commercial advertising photographer. He is now focused on portraiture and art projects such as this one.

“Turning the world’s smallest museum into the world’s largest museum, honouring the legacy and ideals of Nelson Mandela.”

“We invite South Africans and people around the world to commission iMadiba micro museums and use them to emulate Madiba’s legacy while helping to build a better tomorrow.”