- Local artist Clyde Stapleton is transforming Muizenberg’s electricity boxes into colourful robot-themed murals that incorporate local history.
- With 34 already completed, Stapleton plans to paint 100 bots and use QR codes to link the artwork to historical information.
- The project is supported by community sponsors and aims to spark interest in Muizenberg’s unique culture and heritage.
With a splash of colour and innovation, electricity boxes in Muizenberg are undergoing a transformation into colourful robot figures while incorporating historical nuggets of information for locals to explore.
The brainchild of mural street artist Clyde Stapleton, more than 34 “bots” across Muizenberg have already been completed. The aim of the project is to transform 100 electricity boxes.
“I want to make them relevant,” he told People’s Post. “I want people to go on a sort of treasure hunt with QR codes on the bot giving you a story behind it, such as the history of a building or street and then to lead you to another bot which then gives you a tour of Muizenberg.”
Originally from Durban and Johannesburg, Stapleton formerly worked at power stations as a rigger and came across his hidden art talent by chance during a wine-and-art evening in 2006.
“I never went to an art school and never thought I would be an artist,” he shared.
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“I was invited to an art night, where one does art and wine, and I ended up painting exactly what the teacher demonstrated. At the time, she advised me to paint every day, which I did.”
Struggle for work
Since then, Stapleton has completed more than 100 paintings and sketches. His gifts and talents allowed him to make a living after the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly when “the struggle for work was real, so I started doing portraits, murals and sketches.”
Painting murals led his discovery as an artist in Muizenberg.
“When I moved to Cape Town I did murals, which is what led me to be discovered in Muizenberg. Business owners noticed and asked me to do a mural, for example, on a shop wall and the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) became involved.”
Shortly after the collaboration, the idea of painting robots on electricity boxes came about.
“We thought of something fun, upbeat and child-friendly as well as its being the technological age, which is how I thought of doing robots,” Stapleton said.
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It costs roughly R1 500 to complete one electricity box, which includes the removal of rust, primer, paint, polyurethane sealer and varnish.
“I want to do at least 100 bots in Muizenberg and then move onto the rest of Cape Town with at least 500,” said Stapleton. “I want it to last for years so I only use the best tools and paint.”
Meanwhile, the electricity boxes are owned by companies such as Telkom and Vodacom. “People have asked how I support myself and this is the way I make a living so residents, and business owners have started sponsoring paint to have electricity boxes painted.”
- Anyone who would like to sponsor a “Muizenberg bot” can reach out to Stapleton on 073 764 0541.