Location: NIROX Sculpture Park, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa
Artist: Barend de Wet
Client: NIROX Foundation
Discipline: Sculpture Fabrication
Project overview
Grandi Manufacturing was commissioned to fabricate components for Barend de Wet’s large-scale sculptural installation exhibited at the NIROX Sculpture Park as part of TWENTY: South African Sculpture of the Last Two Decades. The work is recognisable for its whimsical pairing of two monumental knitting needles positioned beside an oversized, vividly green steel “ball of wool”.
De Wet, known for his conceptual and often playful approach to sculpture, created a piece that reimagines everyday domestic objects at exaggerated scale, inviting viewers to pause, laugh, and reconsider the familiar. Installed on the lawns of the Cradle of Humankind, the sculpture became one of the most memorable pieces of the exhibition.
Fabrication details
Grandi Manufacturing produced the precision-engineered steel components that form the knitting needles, achieving the smooth, elongated forms and rounded tips specified by the artist. Structural integrity was essential, given the slender proportions and outdoor installation environment.
The final assembly and finishing ensured that the sculpture was both visually striking and durable enough for long-term outdoor display, while maintaining the clean, polished aesthetic central to the artist’s intention.
Context
The sculpture formed part of a broader showcase featuring more than 50 works by South African artists, displayed across NIROX’s landscaped grounds of streams, lawns and mature trees. Visitors engaged with the artwork in unexpected ways — including children who delighted in imagining the sculpture’s giant ball of wool as a playful prop.
Outcome
The finished installation highlights the power of scale, humour, and craftsmanship in contemporary South African sculpture. Grandi Manufacturing is proud to have supported Barend de Wet and the NIROX Foundation in realising this memorable piece.
