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Christof Heyns
Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
Once upon a time, in a far-away country, there was a ruler who cared deeply
for his people. As far as he could, he allowed them to say and do what they
wanted. He always said the only time his officials should intervene was when
people were harming one another. They were allowed to read and write as
they pleased, and to play music and dance in the streets. Art galleries and
classical buildings adorned the cities and towns.
Across the country there were walls where people were encouraged to
express themselves. Some wrote poetry, others used it to paint pictures and
some used it to pen what they considered to be inspiring messages. The most
popular theme for the paintings was rural scenes.
But, and this worried the ruler, there was very little evidence of what he
considered to be ‘true creativity’. One day as he walked with his trusted
advisor in the streets (undercover, as was his habit) they stopped at some of
the paintings on the walls. ‘All these cows and waterfalls may have their
place but has anyone here even written a play, a poem or a song, or
presented us with a painting that has given us a glimpse into what life is all
about?’ the ruler asked. He was getting more agitated. ‘Isn’t that also why
so few scientific inventions and patents have emanated from our country —
we are living in a fantasy world.’
‘The thing about people having ideas’, the advisor said ‘is that it is a
package deal — the good ones come with the bad ones, and there is not
always a clear line between them’. ‘If that is so’, the ruler said, ‘it is the
price we will have to pay’.
He decided to conduct an experiment. He called it ‘Project Open Your
Mind’.
In one part of the country he had a giant frieze put up on the city hall.
In the frieze, the Palace of Justice, a national monument which housed the
high court, was on fire — stark orange against the blue winter skies.
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