Designs unveiled for Nelson Mandela statue in Glasgow

Alan B Herriot's entry

Five designs for a planned statue of Nelson Mandela have been unveiled in Glasgow.

The city was the first in the world to award its freedom to Mandela in 1981, at a time when he was still in prison in South Africa.

The leader of the country's anti-apartheid struggle later visited Glasgow in 1993 - three years after he was released from jail.

The Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation (NMSMF) launched the competition to design a statue, to be situated at Nelson Mandela Place in the city centre.

Nelson Mandela visited Glasgow in 1993 to receive the freedom of the city

Models will be on display in Glasgow City Chambers until 14 November for viewing by the public, who can give feedback on the designs.

The shortlisted artists are Paul Ferriter, Alan Herriot, Kenny Hunter, Hector Guest and David Mitchell.

Each has produced a maquette - a model of the statue - for their design for the sculpture.

Brian Filling, the chairman of the memorial foundation and an honorary consul for South Africa, said Mandela - who died in 2013 aged 95 - remained a "symbol of the struggle to make the world a better place."

He added: "We hope that many people will view the maquettes in the city chambers and make their views known so that it becomes the people's statue - reflecting their identification with the struggle of Nelson Mandela and the South African people."

Mr Filling campaigned from the 1960s against apartheid - the system in South Africa which allowed the white minority to oppress the majority black inhabitants.

Kenny Hunter's proposed design

Hector Guest's Mandela sculpture

David J Mitchell's entry

Paul Ferriter's design for the Nelson Mandela statue

Mandela had been convicted in 1962 of charges including conspiring to commit acts of sabotage and guerrilla warfare and spent nearly 30 years in prison.

He was frequently referred to as a terrorist, and Dr Michael Kelly - in 1981 the Lord Provost of Glasgow - told BBC Scotland News in 2018 that the decision to give Mandela the freedom of the city had proved controversial.

The city also changed the name of St George's Place in the city centre - where the South African consulate-general was based - to Nelson Mandela Place.

However, Glasgow's promotion of Mandela's cause quickly led to other cities following suit and a declaration for the release of Mandela launched by Kelly garnered support from countries around the world.

Mandela was released from jail in 1990 and later became the country's president.

He visited Glasgow in 1993 to formally receive the honour of the freedom of the city, and spoke to a crowd of about 10,000 people in George Square.

Glasgow's current Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren, said: "We are proud to be the first city to grant Nelson Mandela the Freedom of the City, our highest accolade, and to support him during his imprisonment.

"This statue will honour Nelson Mandela's courage and leadership, keep alive the lessons of that struggle, and reflect the solidarity of Glasgow's people."