Artists bring unique festive touch to Bayside Mall

Festive celebrations have begun at Bayside Mall in Table View as the centre marks its 40th anniversary. 

This year’s display features a mix of seasonal colours and lights, including Christmas decorations intended to create a holiday atmosphere.

A query from a resident, however, prompted Tabletalk to look into why the mall’s corridors feature mannequins dressed in festive designs rather than the more familiar Santas, reindeer, or elves.

The resident questioned the use of mannequins in Christmas attire, suggesting that they did not appear to fit the traditional festive theme.

Bayside Mall’s regional manager, Sharne Smit, said the reason was straightforward: the display is intended to reflect the surrounding community and offer something a little different to inspire shoppers.

Ms Smit said the mannequins - along with the intricate artwork on them - were created by artists from The Imagination Station, a non-profit organisation based in Duynefontein that provides opportunities for artists and art graduates, particularly from underprivileged communities, to produce and showcase their work.

Ms Smit took TableTalk on a tour of the mall, which underwent redevelopment around this time last year, and pointed out the four mannequins in question.

The first, Thabo, represents the spirit of celebration; his name means “joy” in Setswana.

Next is Naledi, known as “the star of Christmas”; Naledi means “star” in Sesotho.

Amara, “The Golden Tide”, takes a name that means “eternal” in several African languages and symbolises the holiday season and the golden-hour sunsets for which the Table View coastline is known.

Lastly, Lindiwe, “the spirit of the ocean”, whose name means “we have waited”, represents the sea. The figure is decorated with shells and protea flowers crafted from mussel shells.

Ms Smit said that festive décor typically comes at an additional cost for malls, and the team therefore chose an approach that would support the community by commissioning work from a local non-profit.

 She said that sustainability had also been a priority.

“Instead of spending more money on plastic baubles and similar decorations, which only add to the problem, we considered what would be festive, community-centred and economically responsible,” she said.

Using Lindiwe as an example, she explained that the figure symbolises the point where ocean and land meet — a theme the team felt reflected Table View itself.

While the mannequins have prompted a range of opinions, Ms Smit said they are not intended to hold any racial or religious significance, but rather to reflect the diversity of the mall’s shoppers and the community.

Turning to the anniversary celebrations taking place this weekend, she said she was pleased to be part of the milestone.

 Historical records show that Bayside Mall was the first retail shopping centre in Table View, established after public participation and consumer council discussions in the 1970s. The mall officially opened on November 30, 1985.