Creatively transformed electricity boxes spark a ‘vibe’ in Cape Town’s Muizenberg

Born and raised in Durban, Clyde Stapleton (34) is a creative entrepreneur who has lived in the seaside Cape Town suburb of Muizenberg for two years.

His work includes painting murals on community walls and creating commissioned artworks for local residents’ homes. He also paints portraits of families at the beach and markets.

Stapleton’s work as a mural artist prompted residents to ask him to transform and paint electricity boxes late last year, resulting in his first two projects. He is now turning old, rusty electricity box units into colourful robot-themed figures, thereby injecting personality into Muizenberg’s urban landscape.

After he painted his first boxes, he had a meeting with members of the Muizenberg Improvement District, who came on board. He says they responded that “the community is going crazy about it; they love it”.

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“We have taken these old rusted boxes, we’ve cleaned them up and we make them look nice,’’ Stapleton said.

Since the meeting he has painted 24 boxes and dreams of painting more than 500, all the way from Muizenberg to Simon’s Town.

He begins his day with meditation and prayer before meeting clients interested in his work. Next, he gathers his tools and selects the boxes he will focus on. The first step involves grinding the chosen boxes.

The next day, he applies an intermediate coat, and on the third day he adds the final one. After that, he incorporates the designs and finishes with a seal.

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Each box has a message or name on it. It serves as a monument for the community.

The project’s research-driven approach has led to meaningful tributes.

“We do research on all the boxes,” said Stapleton. “A few people help with that.

“This one here is connected to a guy who used to be a gardener at the park across the road. He passed away. His name was Morris and we dedicated ‘Morris the garden robot’ to him.”

According to Stapleton, the sponsored project has received immense support from residents. However, not everyone has been pleased with the initiative.

One resident expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of notification about the project. Stapleton acknowledged her concerns.

“She was not happy because she did not get informed about it. I respect that, I understand,” he said.

As a result, the project was put on hold in the area surrounding the resident’s property. Stapleton clarified that the work in question was not directly on the resident’s property, but on the adjacent corner.

Faral Scottish, a local worker, appreciates the art’s ability to “bring life and more vibes” to the area, making it a great spot for photos.

Stapleton’s project has also gained significant support from local businesses, including MUi Stays, a hospitality and property management company, which sponsors the paint and other requirements.

The project’s impact extends beyond aesthetics, since it also benefits the community.

“The community is loving it because the boxes also have directions on them and they are a tourist attraction.

“The project has brought a vibe into Muizenberg,” said Stapleton. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.