Grandi Manufacturing played a key role in Marco Cianfanelli’s “The Dying Slave”, a striking mosaic artwork located at Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch. The artwork, inspired by Michelangelo’s famous sculpture, features nine large columns arranged in such a way that from a specific vantage point, they align to reveal a complete image of The Dying Slave. This project was executed through a collaborative effort with Spier Architectural Arts.
Grandi Manufacturing contributed by creating the intricate steel framework required to support the 225,000 hand-cut mosaic pieces that make up the work. These materials included natural stones like limestone, marble, and granite, as well as industrial glass, porcelain, and Venetian glass tiles.
The mosaic is arranged to offer different views: one side presents a “positive” image, while the opposite side shows a “negative” or inverted version of the same figure. The columns’ staggered placement allows visitors to interact with the piece, moving through the installation to experience its full effect from different perspectives
This was a highly intricate and creative project, underscoring Grandi Manufacturing’s ability to combine engineering expertise with artistic vision on a large scale.
