# Steel Politician Structures The Nelson Mandela Memorial by Marco Cianfanelli Commemorates a Hero By Alexandra Serrano | Published 2012-09-19 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nelson-mandela-memorial-by-marco-cianfanelli References: [whudat.de](http://www.whudat.de/the-freedom-fighter-nelson-mandela-sculpture-made-of-prison-bars/) & [marcocianfanelli](http://marcocianfanelli.com/) The Nelson Mandela Memorial by Marco Cianfanelli honors the political leader's longstanding influence. Made up of [50 steel columns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/water-sculpture-lj) ranging between 6.5 and 9.5 meters tall, the installation stands proud in the Midlands landscape. Each column stands for a year of solidarity of Mandela's capture. This memorial site was commissioned to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of when [Mandela's long walk to freedom](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nelson-mandela-day) began. The powerful piece was commissioned by various South African institutions, and inaugurated by current president Jacob Zuma. Meant to be viewed form a distance of 35 meters, the vertical bars create a seemingly flat image that shows a portrait of the political leader. This forward-thinking sculpture differentiates form the conventional monuments as it utilizes an avant-garde aesthetic. With its modernism, the piece is a statement-making tribute to the legacy of Mandela. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 51% | Activity: 72% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Political](https://www.trendhunter.com/political) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Steel Column Monuments:** The use of steel columns provides a modern and sleek form of commemorative monuments for historic figures. - **Avant-garde Memorials:** Incorporating futuristic and unconventional designs into memorials creates a unique tribute to honor influential figures. - **Distance-dependent Art:** Creating art installations that only reveal their true form from a certain distance adds an interactive and experiential element to outdoor exhibits. ### Where This Applies - **Architecture:** Architects can explore using unconventional materials and designs in public monuments to innovate traditional commemorative structures. - **Public Art:** Cities and institutions can commission artists to create unconventional monuments that feature modern materials and forms, inviting the public to interact with public space and engage with history. - **Tourism:** Distance-dependent public art and monuments can provide an interactive and exploratory experience to tourists visiting important landmarks, attracting more visitors and boosting local economies. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Reflective Memorial Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sanctum-of-trees.md) - [Future-Facing Sculptural Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eye-of-the-future.md) - [Cage-Inspired Arch Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-weiweis-work.md) - [Leader-Commemorating Restaurant Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nandos-periperi.md) - [Former President Brick Mausoleums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thomas-sankara-mausoleum.md) - [Stacked Concrete Memorial Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/qatar-world-cup-memorial.md) - [Healing Memorial Monument Parks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/et302-memorial.md) - [Race Car-Inspired Dynamic Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gerry-judah-1.md) - [Architectural Wall Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/humanise-wall.md)