“Ballade” is a poetic homage to my birthplace, Cape Town.
My strongest memories are of the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town and its accompanying Pavilion swimming pool, where I frequented the long walkway and the vast grass areas bordering it throughout my formative years.
I was born there, and my recollection is one of tableaux unfolding through play, encounters, and festivities. The pool, the walkway, the beaches, and the green areas continue to serve as stage sets within which diverse performances unfold.
Returning to Cape Town, I was once again drawn to these spaces, where little seems to have changed in terms of structure and recreation, but which now exist as a celebration of cultural and social diversity in the post-Apartheid era.
The Promenade, which starts at Mouille Point and runs along the water’s edge all the way to Bantry Bay, is one of Cape Town’s most frequented public spaces, bringing together cyclists, vagabonds, dog walkers, joggers, cruisers, skaters, beggars, amblers, lovers, salsa dancers, and homeless people.
For many, this area is their sanctum, the public space they do not have in private due to cramped living conditions or because of the general pressures and continuing challenges of life in South Africa. [Official Website]
