Ambiguous associations : monuments referred to in the design of the Voortrekker Monument

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

Authors

Steenkamp, Alta

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Art Historical Work Group of South Africa

Abstract

In Gerhard Moerdyk’s communications, both orally and in writing, on the origin and importance of the design of the Voortrekker Monument (1949, Pretoria, South Africa) he often associated this monument with various other monuments across the world. These references fall in two groups: the first concerns a statement that developed and changed over time, wherein the Voortrekker Monument is placed in a scale relationship to well-known world monuments. These include the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Dom des Invalides, the Taj Mahal, an Egyptian pyramid, the Great Wall of China and the Völkerslacht Denkmal. The second concerns the relationship of the design of the Voortrekker Monument to Great Zimbabwe, and explores the different views that Moerdyk expressed of this monument. The article shows how Afrikaner sentiment and ideology directed and shifted Moerdyk’s own personal views and comments on the tension that arose between his personal interest as an architect and his public views as a representative of Afrikaner ideals.
In Gerhard Moerdyk se kommunikasies rondom die ontwerp van die Voortrekker-monument (1949, Pretoria, Suid-Afrika), beide mondelings en in skrif, assosieer hy gereeld die monument met ‘n verskeidenheid ander monumente regoor die wêreld. Hierdie verwysings val in twee groepe: die eerste hou verband met ‘n stelling wat verander en ontwikkel oor tyd, waarin die Voortrekkermonument geplaas word binne ‘n skaal-vergelyking tot bekende monumente regoor die wêreld. Dit sluit in die Mausoleum van Halikarnassus, die Pantheon, die Petrusbasilika, die Dom des Invalides, die Taj Mahal, ‘n Egiptiese piramiede, die Groot Muur van Sjina en die Völkerslachtdenkmal. Die tweede behels die verband tussen die ontwerp van die Voortrekker-monument en Groot Zimbabwe, en ondersoek die verskillende opinies wat Moerdyk uitdruk oor hierdie monument. Die artikel wys hoe Afrikaner-sentiment en -ideologie Moerdyk se opinies beïnvloed, en lewer kommentaar op die verskille wat ontstaan tussen sy persoonlike belangstellings as argitek en sy publieke posisie as verteenwoordiger van Afrikaner ideale.

Description

Keywords

Architecture, Voortrekker Monument, Moerdyk, Gerhard

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Steenkamp, A 2011, 'Ambiguous associations : monuments referred to in the design of the Voortrekker Monument', South African Journal of Art History, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 79-89. [http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_sajah.html]