Five sculptors have been selected as finalists to create a commemorative statue of Nelson Mandela that will be installed in Glasgow, Scotland. The artists have completed model designs of their proposed sculptures, which will be displayed at Glasgow City Chambers for public viewing over the next week before a judging panel makes the final selection.
The winning sculpture will be permanently installed at Nelson Mandela Place next October, specifically honoring Mandela's unique historical connections to the Scottish city. Glasgow holds the distinction of being the first major city in the world to grant Nelson Mandela the Freedom of the City award while he was still imprisoned on the notorious Robben Island.
Mandela's relationship with Glasgow dates back to long before his historic visit to the city. Even prior to his arrival, which occurred one year before he was elected President of South Africa, Mandela had publicly thanked the citizens of Glasgow for being the first to offer him the Freedom of the City. This recognition came at a time when many other world leaders and cities were still condemning him as a terrorist for his role in challenging South Africa's apartheid system of racial segregation.
In October 1993, the anti-apartheid revolutionary leader visited Glasgow to formally accept the freedom of nine UK cities that had been awarded to him while he was still languishing in his South African prison cell. During his visit, he expressed gratitude to the people for their unwavering support of both him personally and his country's broader struggle against what he described as a racist and oppressive regime.
In what has become a famous speech delivered from a wet and windy George Square during his October 1993 visit to Glasgow, Mandela declared: "While we were physically denied our freedom, a city 6,000 miles away, and as renowned as Glasgow, refused to accept the legitimacy of the apartheid system." This statement highlighted the significance of Glasgow's early moral stand against South Africa's apartheid government.
Jacqueline McLaren, the current Lord Provost of Glasgow, explained that the new statue will serve as a permanent way of honoring Mandela's unique and historic connections to the city. "I was there when Nelson Mandela was in George Square a long time ago when I was young," she recalled. "I think it's really important – it's part of Glasgow's story."
Brian Filling, who serves as Chair of the Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation, emphasized the importance of the memorial project. "I think it's important because Glasgow has had a long relationship with the struggle against apartheid," he stated. Filling also announced that the public will be invited to view the model statues and provide their input on which design they believe would be most appropriate for the memorial.
The selection process will conclude at the end of this month when the judging panel makes their final decision about which artist will be chosen to create the full-scale sculpture. According to Filling, the judging panel is expected to announce their decision before the end of November, allowing sufficient time for the creation and installation of the final piece.
The completed Nelson Mandela statue is scheduled to be officially unveiled at Nelson Mandela Place on October 9, which will mark the anniversary of Mandela's historic 1993 visit to Glasgow. This timing will create a meaningful connection between the original visit that cemented the relationship between Mandela and the city, and the permanent memorial that will honor that legacy for future generations.
