Paper Design Project In Honour Of Nelson Mandela And The Hard Fight Against The Apartheid

“Tribute to Madiba” is made by graffiti artist Fabian De Smet out of hundreds of paper polygons on a wooden canvas, which under a specific light direction recreates the portrait of Nelson Mandela thanks to a new lights and shadows sculpting technique.

Working in graphic design and art direction, Fabian De Smet wanted to bring back the memories of the hard fight that took place to push the apartheid back. To remind hatred is not a solution, he sought for a medium to prove how we can achieve something greater just by changing our point of view. The centenary of Nelson Mandela was thought to be a great opportunity to revive his legacy. After several months of research, trials and hard work, the “Tribute to Madiba” project was born.

Young Belgian graffiti artist in France at first, Fabian moved to Belgium to study graphic design and advertising, he then graduated with high honours in 2014 from the ESIAJ. To broaden his skills, Fabian went through graphic design, typography, art and motion design projects. He then discovered a passion for tactile & motion design.

More: Fabian De Smet, Behance, Facebook












If you want more awesome content, subscribe to Design You Trust Facebook page.

More Inspiring Stories

Artist Alexandra Kehayoglou Creates Rugs Inspired by Argentina’s Diverse Landscape

This Company Creates Unusual Coffins And Urns In The Shape Of Beer And Whiskey Bottles, Guitars And In A Geometric Style

Japanese Student Creates Superhero Figures Out Of Insect Shells

Archisuits: Artist Creates Wearable Workarounds For "Defensive Architecture"

Stephen Hawking Celebrated With New 'Black Hole' 50 Pence Coin

American Artist Artist Makes A Portrait Of Donald Trump From Peaches

The Insanely Detailed Hyperrealistic Tattoos of Victoria Lee

French Artist Duo Uses Colorful Paper To Bring Scenes From Famous Literary Works To Life

Spectacular Winning Photos from the 2025 World Nature Photography Awards

Giant Cockroach Float: Is That A Cockroach In The Pool?

South African Artist Creates Fantastic Life-Sized Cake Sculptures

Former Porn Star Sasha Grey Is Selling Official Merchandise For A Good Cause

Design Duo Creates Fictional Maps That Honour Nature, Animals And Extraordinary People

Niall Shukla’s Creates Intricate Portraits by Cracking Laminated Glass with Precision Strike

Stunning Elegant 3D-Printed Headpieces by Merve Öztemel

Ukrainian Artist Continues To Remove Makeup From Dolls To Repaint Them In A Very Realistic Way

This Wall Clock Changes Shape When You Walk Around It

"Origin Of The Beginning": Surreal Woden Installations Inspired By The Childhood Memories Of Levi van Veluw

This Middle Finger Halloween Mask Might Be The Ultimate Costume For 2021

"Say No More": We Can't Quite See McDonald's Latest Campaign, But We're Lovin' It

Vintage Photographs Of Welsh Coracle Men With Their Catch Of Fish In The Early 20th Century

Amazing Photos of the 1969 Holden Hurricane

No Mural? No Worries! Japanese Lifehacker Invents Instagenic Angel Wings To-Go

Florigami: Wonderful, Intricate Origami Animals That Live In Glass Bell Jars

Stunning Photos from Dick Smith's Do-It-Yourself Monster Make-Up Handbook Published in 1965

Meet the New Kitschy Bikini for Men: The Brokini

These Funny Surgical Masks Will Help Children To Live Better The Hospital

Artist JR Has Symbolically ‘Reopened’ a Shuttered Florence Museum With a Photocollage of Its Interior on the Facade

These Christmas Boobles Are Just The Injection Of Festive Humour We Need This Week

Pants For Men Only – Penis Pants By Eldridge Cleaver In The 1970s