Words and images: Sean O’Toole.

Friday morning, President Street, Germiston. Looking at City Hall, another vernacular symphony in brick, its clock permanently reading five to six. Walk a bit. See something inside a dark recess, a flash of colour. Enter Golden Scissors (“Unisex Hairstylists”) to look at the mosaic. It is signed “Sash”, as in Cecily Sash. She studied under Henry Moore in London before moving to Joburg where she taught in the art department at Wits. Snap-snap in front of the mural. Chat-chat from inside the hairdressers, which still has those rocket-shaped hairdryers. Wandering delivers strange little revelations.