Nelson Mandela's Sign

Medium: Gouache

Size: 33in x 22.5in

Artist: Susan Wolf

This piece is an artwork by Susan Wolf and international artist and creator of South Africa's tweflthe language 'Taxi Hand Signs', who has collections in South Africa, England and the United States and exhibited in Atlanta, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Munich, New York and Washington.

Taxi hand signs are used on a daily basis by millions of South Africa’s taxi commuters to indicate the destination of their choice. Commuters of a multitude of different language groups cultures and creeds, across townships and cities use Taxi hand signs. An innovative, rapidly evolving and unofficial language, Taxi hand signs have become the logical, silent gesture of the commuter.

Says Woolf of what sparked her interest: "I used to drive around and look at people waiting for the taxis and wonder how the signs came about and how people know what sign to use when. Then when I started my research, I found that not everybody knew the range of taxi hand signs that are necessary to get everywhere in the city.” Woolfs first book on Taxi Hand signs and their destinations was published in May 2007.