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By Alison Fyfe
Posted Monday 14 July 2025
Posted Monday 14 July 2025
The fifth edition of Africa Textile Talks – the continent’s leading forum for debate and action on fashion, textiles and sustainability – will challenge delegates to imagine a future where garments are living expressions of care, repair and regeneration.
Tickets are on sale for the event at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town from 29–31 July, and co-producers Twyg (South Africa) and Imiloa Collective (Mauritius) say visitors can look forward to networking with leading designers, manufacturers and visionaries from Africa’s textile ecosystem.
The theme of the 2025 summit – Thread with Care – will also be reflected in a week-long exhibition of natural, innovative African fibres and textiles at Church House in Cape Town city centre, and Twyg founder Jackie May says it’s all about understanding the potential of the textile industry as a force for positive change.
“By sharing the work of industry pioneers, sustainability experts, practitioners and artisans, we can help shift the textile, craft and fashion sectors and influence a move towards more nature-friendly consumption and production,” she says. “Collective action is needed. No one person, brand or company can do it on their own.”
Priya Ramkissoon, the founder of Imiloa Collective, says the summit is an opportunity to help shape the future of African textiles and circular design, an approach that aims to eliminate waste and keep materials in use for as long as possible.
“We’ll be exploring ideas at the intersection of fashion, craft, culture, sustainability and the circular economy, aiming to build the growing African community of changemakers, and inspiring partnerships, creative solutions and long-term impact,” she says.
Africa Textile Talks 2025 begins on Tuesday 29 July with a day of conversations exploring how circular design, recycling systems and extended producer responsibility policies can reshape the future of fashion and textiles. Speakers and panellists will include:
● David Torr, co-founder of Faro, which sells the surplus stock and returned apparel of top fashion brands at reduced prices.
● Luleka Zepe from the Elamilina Environmental Project in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, who works through the Refashion Lab and other projects to repurpose waste fabric.
● Gary Erasmus, the managing director of Connacher, which turns waste from the clothing and textile industries into reusable fibre.
● Jesse Naidoo from Clothes to Good, which provides sustainable jobs and micro-business opportunities for people with disabilities through a clothing recycling programme.
Wool will be the focus on Wednesday 30 July, when farmers, processors, designers and retailers will discuss opportunities for greater traceability, the role of regenerative grazing, and new thinking about wool’s role in circular fashion. Speakers and panellists will include:
● Deon Saayman, the CEO of Cape Wools SA.
● Monica Ebert, The Woolmark Company’s business development (sports and performance) and sustainability manager in the Americas.
● Matthew van Lingen, a Karoo sheep farmer who uses regenerative practices to care for his land and livestock while producing premium fibre.
● Gugu Peteni, a luxury fashion designer who explores how wool’s legacy and local availability can combine with innovation and style.
The final day of conversations on Thursday 31 July will celebrate the diverse worlds of making and manufacturing textiles in Africa. Speakers and panellists will include:
● Maria Caley, a lecturer at the University of Namibia whose textiles are inspired by Kavango traditional baskets and other indigenous crafts.
● Muturi Kimani, the founder of Texfad in Uganda, which uses natural fibres from waste banana stems to produce textile yarns, carpets and fabrics.
● Wacy Zacarias from Mozambique, who uses her knowledge of medicinal indigenous plants to create natural dyes for her “healing textiles”.
● Danayi Madondo, a Zimbabwean fashion designer and textile artist whose creativity is rooted in regenerative materials and waste reduction.
Curator of the Africa Textile Talks exhibition Tandekile Mkize says that in African traditions, cloth is more than a material. “It is a medium for storytelling, resistance and transformation. It holds the power to heal wounds – both personal and planetary. It can be designed and produced to nurture rather than deplete, to restore rather than pollute.
May says, “We invite designers, artists, artisans and thinkers to join us at Africa Textile Talks and reflect on how fabric can be a force for well-being, sustainability and renewal in a fractured world.”
V&A Waterfront in Cape Town
29–31 July 2025
Tickets are available from Quicket.
Africa Textile Talks is supported by the V&A Watershed, H&M Group, Faro, Fedisa, Cape Wools SA, Mohair South Africa and Polo South Africa.
Media representatives contact nobanzi@twyg.co.za
WOOL WORLD: A Sensory Exhibition ‘Beneath Karoo Skies’ at Karoo Winter Wool Festival 2025
Posted Monday 30 June 2025
This July, the iconic Karoo landscape will provide the backdrop for a bold new cultural experience: ‘Wool World: Beneath Karoo Skies’, a sensory exhibition curated for the Karoo Winter Wool Festival, 4–5 July 2025.
Curated exclusively for the Karoo Winter Wool Festival, this immersive showcase is the result of a creative collaboration between South African fashion house Viviers and design studio Hōven. Made possible by Cape Wools SA, the Wool World invites visitors to explore the emotional, cultural, and tactile beauty of South African
wool through a carefully woven narrative rooted in place and tradition.
Through a tapestry of art, fashion, furniture, and design, Beneath Karoo Skies draws inspiration from the seasonal rhythms of the Karoo and the deep-rooted bond between nature, fibre, and craftsmanship. The exhibition creates a contemplative space that honours the artisans, designers, and natural landscapes that give
South African wool its global significance.
A sensory exhibition, ‘BENEATH KAROO SKIES,’ explores the abstract emotions and sensory nostalgia, upon reflecting on the seasons in the Karoo; cyclical changes transformed and embodied through art, fashion, furniture, and design—a Wool World, celebrating the richness of South African wool and the hands of the artisans who transform this wonderful fibre.
The Wool World Opening will take place on Friday 4th July at 16:30 at the Dwarsvlei Guest Farm in a raw authentic shed which is ordinarily used as a Shearing Shed for the farm’s merino flock. The first 100 visitors will receive a complimentary glass of Babylonstoren wine to enjoy while they appreciate the beauty of the Karoo and the magic of Wool. The exhibition will be open for the public to explore on Friday 4th July 16:30 – 19:00 and Saturday 5th July 16:00 – 19:00, entrance included in the Karoo Winter Wool Festival’s daily festival ticket of R50 per person per day. Tickets to the Karoo Winter Wool Festival can be purchased on Quicket.
Featured Contributors
The exhibition proudly features the work and collaboration of the following artists, designers, and brands:
Anette Mathews
Anika Lötter
Babylonstoren
Button Brothers
Button Brothers x Quenti Alpaca
Cape Cobra Leathercrafts
Chantel Zalainskalns
Christine Jacobs
Cina Myburg
Coral And Hive
Crystal Birch
Denise Louw
Fields
Found + Fibre Studio
Frances VH Mohair
Gerber & Co
Gerrit Myburg
Greyroom
Hannah Macfarlane
Heino Schmitt
Houtlander
Karoo Baba
Karoo Baba x VIVIERS
Karoo Creations
Karoo Moon
Knotty Habit Wool
Laura Schultz
Leila Atelier
Linda Nessworthy Quenti Alpaca
Louis Mulinder
Luminousware
Maddelein Anderson
Maxhosa
Michaela Young
Michelle Labuscagne
MmusoMaxwell
Myrtle Edwards
Nina Kruger
Pamela Mcgcurk
Polo
Pulp Paperworks
Ronel Jordaan x Arrange Studio
Samil Natural Fibres
Stephanie Bentum Textiles
Thabo Kopele
The Ananta Sisters
The Vineyard Weavers
Uniform
VIVIERS
VIVIERS x Cape Cobra Leathercrafts
VIVIERS x Mason
Wanda LePhoto
Wiremaven
Wrapt Knitwear
Event Details:
Karoo Winter Wool Festival- Wool World
Friday 4th July 2025 16:30
Saturday 5th July 2025 16:00
Dwarsvlei Farm, Middelburg, Eastern Cape
Media Enquiries
Email: info@karoowinterwoolfestival.com
Website: karoowinterwoolfestival.com
Social Media: @KarooWinterWoolFestival
Hashtags: #WoolWorld2025 | #karoowinterwoolfestival
Posted Tuesday 8 April 2025
Presented by Latitudes Online in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), the Fair has become a standout event on Johannesburg’s cultural calendar, celebrated for its unique, immersive approach to experiencing contemporary African art. By moving beyond the confines of a traditional fair venue, RMB Latitudes invites visitors to explore art in a dynamic and multi-sensory environment – wandering through distinctive indoor and outdoor spaces, pausing for a leisurely lunch in lush gardens, engaging in thought-provoking conversations, and contemplating sculpture beneath Johannesburg’s crisp autumn skies.
Participating exhibitors
This year, RMB Latitudes Art Fair is excited to be working with 50 galleries and with over 300 artists showcasing their talent over the course of the weekend. From major local galleries such as Southern Guild, Stevenson and Everard Read to nomadic gallery FEDE Arthouse, Strauss & Co auction house and new Nigerian space AMG Projects, every aspect of the art ecosystem is represented. To view the full list of 2025 participating exhibitors, visit latitudesartfair.com/exhibitors-2025.
Co-Production
“This year’s theme of CO-PRODUCTION is a nod to the Fair’s central ethos of working collaboratively with and connecting all players in the art industry,” says Lucy MacGarry, co-founder and director. “The theme sees galleries, artists and institutions come together to create an exciting programme of exhibitions and special projects, exemplifying the truly African sentiment of what is possible through collaboration.”
Special Projects
The Fair’s 2025 International platform takes a deliberate and engaged focus on neighbouring country Botswana, with several exhibitors working collaboratively to create a presentation that respects the balance between contemporary art and more traditional, foundational art practices in that region.
INDEX, an annual focus on independent artists, is curated by artist Bonolo Kavula. In her tenure as INDEX curator, Kavula’s exhibition seeks to highlight the rich depth of abstract art. Kavula mentors her chosen artists, in posing questions that force them to think deeper about abstraction, and what it is they are abstracting.
In the gardens, an outdoor exhibition Disturbed Currents: Art for a Warming World explores how it is that we inform the climate, and how it, in turn, informs our own lived experience, while ESSAY sees stoneware sculptures by doyenne of South African ceramic sculptors, Amalie von Maltitz, shown alongside charcoal drawings by Sydney Kumalo.
Through all of these (and more) Special Projects, and the works of 50 exhibiting galleries, RMB Latitudes strikes a perfect balance between the serious business of the art world and the sheer joy of engaging with creativity in an open, welcoming space. This curatorial approach embraces an intergenerational and diverse audience – whether seasoned collectors or first-time visitors – broadening access to art while fostering sustainable economic growth in the sector.
Expanding Impact Beyond the Fair
“Our growing partnership with Latitudes – not only on the Fair but also through initiatives like RMB Latitudes CuratorLab, a mentorship programme for aspiring curators across the continent, and RMB Latitudes Collectors’ Circle, a growing community of like-minded art enthusiasts – aligns with our mission to unlock and celebrate creative talent,” says RMB’s Chief Marketing Officer, Alison Badenhorst. “Like the partnership between RMB and Latitudes, the relationship between creativity and optimism is an extremely positive one. Creativity fuels optimism and optimism fuels creativity.”
Get Your Tickets
Tickets for RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2025 are on sale. Visit latitudesartfair.com/tickets to book before they sell out.
The Sunday Street Experiment on Bree: an open invite to ‘Play’
The Sunday Street Experiment on Bree: an open invite to ‘Play’
The Weekly Bree and Shortmarket Street Experiment continues – a new tool, initiative, and activation to reimagine the city’s streets to be for the people, not cars.
Launched during Design Week South Africa in October last year, the weekly Sunday Bree Street experiments is a collaboration between Urban Mobility, the Mayor’s Office at the City of Cape Town, Young Urbanists, and Street Experiments Afrika. One Sunday, there’s an open-to-all bouncing castle, street cricket, and chalk fun. The next, a spontaneous strangers picnic, or sewing a community-scale picnic blanket the lenght of Bree Street… In all of their efforts, the initiative aims to test a simple question: ‘What if Bree and Shortmarket streets were closed to cars? What impact – positive or negative – would it have?
Listed among many, the recently launched ‘Ask Me Anything’ series is a month-long initiative aimed at providing aspiring creative professionals and interested individuals with key insights from leaders in various fields through meaningful one-on-one conversation on the stoep of the Duck Duck Goose store at 120 Bree Street. Happening every Sunday in March, as a part of the Sunday Bree Street Experiments, participants will be able to RSVP for a 10-minute time slot to sit down with the full attention of an established industry professional (such as Gabrielle Kannemeyer or Lukhanyo Mdingi) on the store’s bench.
The Sunday Street Experiment on Bree has demonstrated an increase in local business sales, with communities enjoying a safe space to walk, explore, play, and reimagine. Each week, different communities are dedicated to reimagining Cape Town streets like Bree for people, not cars.
Local streets are public spaces, not just car spaces. “We believe if we can get this balance right, Cape Town can truly become a place for everyone to make it a design destination where mobility is not just limited to private transportation or being subjected to dangerous streets for active mobility users,” says Roland Postma, Managing Director at Young Urbanists NPC and Curator at Design Week South Africa.
To learn more visit duckduckgoosestore.com | designweeksouthafrica.com/duckduckgoose/ and follow @duckduckgoosestore & @designafricasouthafrica
WHEN: Every Sunday
LOCATION: Bree Street, Cape Town City Center
CONTACT: info@designweeksouthafrica.com
Posted Tuesday 18 February 2025
In the spirit of PLAY – the theme of House and Leisure’s latest edition – guests are invited to an exclusive visit to the historic Art Deco penthouse of Lezanne Viviers at Mutual Heights, also featured in the magazine’s most recent issue. This unique collaboration celebrates the intersection of heritage, contemporary design, and sustainable craftsmanship, set against the backdrop of one of Cape Town’s most iconic buildings.
Marking its first iteration at Mutual Heights, NURU African Collective Showroom will officially launch during this event, offering an exclusive showcase of the continent’s finest creativity.
The showroom features renowned designers Daisie Jo, IAMISIGO, Viviers, The Bam Collective, and Kat van Duinen, alongside celebrated design studios such as Ethereal Candle Crafters, Bare, Okra, Frances VH Mohair, Stephanie Bentum Textiles, Water Dixon, Wiid Design, In Company, Arrange Studio, Edition Verso, Pulp Paperworks, Moho, Maddelein Anderson, Sera Holland, and Roche van den Berg. Expanding into the realms of art and ceramics, the showroom will also present works by Marlene Steyn, Lezanne Viviers, Lukhanyo Mdingi, Gabrielle Kruger, Eva Losada, and Driaan Claassen.
A curated selection of accessories will be on display, including hats by Crystal Birch, Earth Age, and Milliner, bags by Cape Cobra Leathercrafts and Seven, and artisanal jewelry by Tinsel and Adele Dejak. The sensory experience is further enriched with fragrances from House of Gozdawa and Saint d’Ici and more.
With the support of NURU African Collective Showroom, alongside partners Local Studio, Studio Botanicus, and Studio H, this collaboration connects designers, artists, and artisans with collectors who appreciate the synergy of heritage, contemporary design, and sustainable craftsmanship. Discover, connect, and celebrate the future of African design in an extraordinary space where tradition meets bold new narratives.
LOCATION: Apartment 1101, Mutual Heights,
14 Darling Street, Cape Town City Center
DATE: 18th February – 23rd February
TIME: 9:00 – 17:00
By Ten x Collective
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, which takes place from 21 to 23 February 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), is delighted to announce its exhibitors for the 12th edition of the fair and introduce its first highlights.
The Investec Cape Town Art Fair remains the largest contemporary art fair on the African continent, featuring 124 exhibitors from across the globe, including top galleries from Europe and the US specialising in contemporary art.
For the first time, galleries from Tokyo and Kuwait City are taking part in the fair.
The 2025 edition of the fair will feature 30 first-time exhibitors, the largest group of new galleries in the event’s history.
More than half of the exhibitors are returning to the fair, drawn back by the vibrant energy of Cape Town with its dynamic art scene and reputation as the key art hub of the African continent.
Independent consultant and curator Céline Seror will take the reins of the SOLO section, while Egyptian curator, writer and researcher Heba El Kayal from Cairo will curate the Generations section.
The Lookout section, dedicated to emerging galleries that have been operating for under five years, returns.
The 2025 fair will also showcase the second iteration of its ‘Cabinet’ series: Cabinet/Trophy: Playing the Field, curated by Exhibition Match (Alexander Richards and Dr Phokeng Setai).
The fair continues to take art beyond the confines of the fair by activating Cape Town’s buzzing inner-city and surrounds through the Unbound City public programme, including an Art Fair Hub to enjoy after hours.
Each year, Investec Cape Town Art Fair attracts more than 30 000 art collectors and enthusiasts from around the globe for a showcase of the very best contemporary art from Africa and around the world.
The 2025 edition of Investec Cape Town Art Fair welcomes more than 30 new exhibitors (including galleries from Europe, the US and other African countries outside of South Africa), including 11 new South African galleries.
“Interrogating the dynamics of experimentation, the 12th edition of Investec Cape Town Art Fair: PLAY bases its thematic framework around play as action, play your role, play as curiosity, play as the inherent human desire to create,” says fair director Laura Vincenti. “Through PLAY, Investec Cape Town Art Fair offers a space where the boundaries between creator and viewer are fluid, and where art itself becomes a living, interactive experience. Rather than being a passive observation of aesthetic objects, play invites the audience to actively participate in the unfolding of ideas. This collaborative aspect of play redefines the roles of artist and viewer, transforming them into co-creators of meaning. The fair encourages engagement not only through the visual and conceptual, but also through the tactile, sensory, and emotional, allowing for a deeper connection between the work and its audience. In this context, art becomes a shared space where diverse perspectives intersect, challenge, and ultimately enrich the collective experience.”
She adds that the fair will once again extend well beyond the CTICC, where the main exhibition is held, into the city of Cape Town to include its leading galleries, museums and other cultural institutions in a region-wide week-long festival of art providing visitors with an opportunity to explore the city through its art and experience its richness as a cultural destination.
Art in Action: Programming and Events
Visitors to Investec Cape Town Art Fair in 2025 can expect an extraordinary programme of events, talks and tours. Talks, conversations, guided art walks and panel discussions with thought leaders, art market professionals and experts on the world of contemporary art will provide invaluable insights and thought-provoking perspectives on the market for African art, collecting, current themes and new directions.
“We are pleased to welcome five independent curators to the Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2025. The renowned curators overseeing the special sections include four newcomers and one returning curator,” says Vincenti.
French-born Céline Seror (now residing in The Netherlands) will bring her unique experience as an independent curator and consultant to the SOLO section. Seror is the co-founder of prominent art platforms, including Intense Art Magazine, the first publication dedicated to women in art from Africa, and the print and digital platform The Art Momentum. Over the past decade, she has been dedicated to spotlighting new voices and narratives through various publications and artistic projects.
Heba El Kayal, a curator, writer and researcher from Cairo, Egypt, will curate the Generations section, a space where intergenerational conversations between both local and international emerging and established artists are showcased. El Kayal specialises in modern and contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa. Over the course of her career, she has consulted for auction houses and private collectors, and speaks regularly on topics related to the preservation of artist estates, modern and contemporary Middle Eastern and African art, and the importance of institutional cross-collaboration on the African continent.
Investec Cape Town Art Fair also welcomes back Dr. Mariella Franzoni, who will once again lead the Tomorrows/Today section.
Additional programme highlights
The 2025 Fair will also feature the second interaction of the special project cabinet series, Cabinet/Trophy: Playing the Field’, curated by Exhibition Match (Alexander Richards and Dr Phokeng Setai). Richards and Setai founded Exhibition Match in 2022 – an artistic project and social intervention that includes an art-world football match and accompanying exhibition with the aim of making art accessible through football. Richards is a director at Stevenson and Setai recently joined Zeitz MoCAA as assistant curator.
The Lookout section – a dedicated space for young, non-traditional art projects that have been operating for under five years. Editions is a special section focusing on leading print galleries and workshops that specialise in prints, multiples and editions.
Magazines and Publications showcases magazines, books, journals and catalogues presented by publishers from around the world with a focus on art, which in 2025 will host the likes of House and Leisure, The Manor, Your Luxury Africa, Art Times, Chimurenga, as well as Clarke’s Books in collaboration with Jonathan Ball Publication.
Connect cultural section featuring Norval Foundation, Zeitz MOCAA, Lalela, Western Cape Education Department, City of Cape Town.
Following a successful inaugural stand last year, appearing for the second year City of Cape Town Emerging Artists Programme will again be hosting a stand.
Participating International Galleries
16/16 (Lagos, Nigeria)
50 Golborne (London, United Kingdom)
Afriart Gallery (Kampala, Uganda)
AMG Projects (Lagos, Nigeria)
Anna Laudel (Bodrum and Istanbul, Turkey, Düsseldorf, Germany)
AYN Gallery (Paris, France)
blue wind project (Sidi Bou Saïd, Tunisia)
Bode (Berlin, Germany)
Borderlands Art (Kampala, Uganda)
Cellar Contemporary (Trento, Italy)
Dep Art Gallery (Milan, Italy)
First Floor Gallery Harare (Harare, Zimbabwe)
Galerie Caroline O’Breen (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Galerie EIGEN + ART (Leipzig, Berlin, Germany)
Galerie Eric Dupont (Paris, France)
Galerie La La Lande (Paris, France)
Galerie Marion Chauvy (Paris, France)
Galleria Anna Marra (Rome, Italy)
Galleria Giovanni Bonelli (Milan and Pietrasanta, Italy)
Galleria Michela Rizzo (Venice, Italy)
Gallery Nosco (Brussels, Belgium)
Gregor Podnar (Vienna, Austria)
Gypsum Gallery (Cairo, Egypt)
Hunna Art (Kuwait City, Kuwait)
Jahmek Contemporary Art (Luanda, Angola)
Jonathan Carver Moore (San Francisco, United States of America)
kó (Lagos, Nigeria)
KWADRAT Galerie (Berlin, Germany)
LEESAYA (Tokyo, Japan)
LIS10 Gallery (Arezzo, Italy and Paris, France)
Lo Magno artecontemporanea (Modica, Italy)
LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery (Abidjan, Ivory Coast)
OH Gallery (Dakar, Senegal)
Öktem Aykut (Istanbul, Turkey)
Reiners Contemporary Art (Marbella, Spain)
Samuel Maenhoudt Gallery (Knokke-Heist, Belgium)
Schönfeld Gallery (Brussels, Belgium)
SOTO Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria)
Spiaggia Libera (Paris, France)
Suburbia Contemporary (Barcelona, Spain and Leipzig, Germany)
TAM Gallery (Cairo, Egypt)
The Art Affair (Luanda, Angola)
The Bridge Gallery (Paris, France)
The Over (Barcelona, Spain)
The Project Room (Windhoek, Namibia)
tHEIR (London, United Kingdom)
THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE (Lisbon, Portugal)
Windsor Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria)
Participating Local Galleries
131 A Gallery (Cape Town, South Africa)
16 on Lerotholi (Cape Town, South Africa)
50ty50ty (Cape Town, South Africa)
99 Loop Gallery (Cape Town, South Africa)
Art Formes (Cape Town, South Africa)
Artist Proof Studio (Johannesburg, South Africa)
ArtThrob (Cape Town, South Africa)
artHARARE (Cape Town, South Africa)
Berman Contemporary (Johannesburg, South Africa)
BKhz (Johannesburg, South Africa)
blank (Cape Town, South Africa)
Candice Berman Gallery (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Christopher Moller Gallery (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Dale Sargent Fine Art (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Demo Projects (Cape Town, South Africa)
EBONY/CURATED (Cape Town,Franschhoek, South Africa)
Eclectica Contemporary (Cape Town, South Africa)
Eleven Editions (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Everard Read (Cape Town, Franschhoek, Johannesburg, South Africa and London, UK)
Goodman Gallery (Johannesburg, Cape Town, South Africa, London, UK and New York, USA)
Graham Contemporary (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Guns & Rain (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Kalashnikovv Gallery (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Lemkus Gallery (Cape Town, South Africa)
Locus (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Loft Editions (Cape Town, South Africa)
Occupying The Gallery (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Red Room Gallery (Cape Town, South Africa)
RESERVOIR (Cape Town, South Africa)
Riaan Bolt Antiques (Johannesburg, South Africa)
SMAC Gallery (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Southern Guild (Cape Town, South Africa)
STEVENSON (Cape Town, Johannesburg, South Africa and Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
The Melrose Gallery (Johannesburg, South Africa)
THK Gallery (Cape Town, South Africa)
Untitled (Cape Town, South Africa)
Vault Research (Cape Town, South Africa)
Vela Projects (Cape Town, South Africa)
WALL (Cape Town, South Africa)
WHATIFTHEWORLD (Cape Town, South Africa)
WORLDART (Cape Town, South Africa)
The 12th Investec Cape Town Art Fair will run from 21 to 23 February at the Cape Town International Conference Centre from 12h00 to 19h00.
Tickets can be purchased via webtickets.
Visit www.investeccapetownartfair.co.za or follow Investec Cape Town Art Fair on Instagram @investeccapetownartfair and Facebook @investeccapetownartfair. Hashtags #InvestecCapeTownArtFair #ICTAF2025
By Ten x Collective
Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum launch inaugural SA Clay Awards in recognition of ceramic excellence in South Africa.
Prompted by its acceptance as an affiliate member of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), The Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum has announced the launch of the inaugural SA Clay Awards, which will exhibit its winning pieces from 2 November to 7 December 2024 for the first time.
As an organisation affiliated to Unesco and devoted to ceramic excellence, the IAC nod was seen as a fittingly momentous opportunity to propose a new biennale award and exhibition, in recognition of the wealth of skill and talent in the South African ceramics landscape.
Alternating annually with the Portrait Award the inaugural SA Clay Awards celebrates mastery and creativity in the field. A novel structure meant that anyone could enter and sees the top 50 pieces acknowledged rather than a singular winner. Uniquely, the sponsored awards money will also be shared equally between the creators of the final selection.
This speaks to the versatility of the medium. With so many ways to interpret, work with and express a concept through clay, choosing one winner would have been next to impossible. “We were really pleased with the range of work entered. A collection of pieces like this shows you the wonder of clay, and what clay can do,” says Hennie Meyer, curator of the show and a prolific ceramic artist in his own right.
The vision was for an exhibition that would showcase ceramic excellence and capture the essence of the current scene in South Africa. “The concept for this exhibition has long intrigued me – it aims to present a diverse, unbiased collection of clay works that go beyond the singular perspective of any curator or gallery. An embodiment of excellence, richness, expression, concept, and craftsmanship,” he adds.
Digging Deep: Inside the Clay Awards Judging Process
And certainly, the judging process played a big role in showcasing this depth. A group of 10 respected international and local panelists – experts in their fields, ranging from renowned ceramic artists to revered academics – ensured that a wide range of viewpoints were part of the assessment of the works. Selectors included Magdalene Odundo (UK/Kenya), Andile Dyalvane (South Africa); Ronnie Watt (Canada/South Africa); Andre Hess (UK/South Africa); Digby Hoets (South Africa); Olivia Barrell (South Africa); Janet de Boos (Australia); Guangzhen Zhou (USA/China); Stanis Mbwanga (Congo) and Elizabeth Perril (USA).
Each panelist chose their top 50 pieces, with the 50 most voted pieces (by 45 artists) overall forming the final selection. The judging was conducted anonymously, allowing selectors to choose works without any contact or deliberation among one another.
This ensured not only a fair judging process but a great variety of work in the final selection. What was also interesting for Hennie and his team as the results came back was that out of 518 entries, 260 received votes. “This shows us that not only was the work extremely diverse but also of an incredibly high standard,” he notes.
Diversity is clearly apparent too, in the incredible variety of the entrants themselves. They range from established names and stalwarts of the ceramics industry to brand-new talents entering the medium. Wonderful variety and rich stories emerge – from the oldest entrant, Felicity Potter who was born in 1935 who entered a piece with her partner David Schlapobersky, to well-known brothers Madoda and Siyabonga Fani both with pieces in the lineup, and many more besides.
Pieces vary greatly in style and execution too – expressive figurative sculptural works stand alongside delicate functional vessels and contemporary graphic designs sit next to the ultra-minimal. It’s a truly multifaceted curation that speaks volumes about the medium itself, and the wide spectrum of creativity locally. Curated by Meyer, the works will be displayed in such a way as to highlight exactly this diversity and versatility.
Meyer refers to the words of Ashraf Jamal in his essay An Intimate Materialism published in Clay Formes (2023) to summarise the richness of the medium: “As Caitlin MacDonald reminds us, ‘We have constructed shelters, vessels for food and water, made idols, art objects, vases, currencies, talismans, funerary urns, inscribed laws and myths upon clay surfaces.’ We are wrought from mud. Clay precedes humankind; it will exist long after we are gone.”
To Meyer, “this profound sentiment reflects the enduring relationship between humanity and this fundamental material”. SA Clay Awards invites you to explore the stories and emotions conveyed through each piece in this exhibition – a collective homage to the rich heritage and future of ceramic artistry in South Africa.
It will open to the public on Saturday 2 November at 11am. The works will be on display at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum until 7 December 2024.
List of awardees:
Barker, Melissa
Bernstein, Bianca
Botha, Deirdre
Brett, Justin
Claassens, Lissa
Cronjé, Ella
Cruise, Wilma
Dahl, Astrid
Fani, Madoda
Fani, Siyabonga
Glenday, Katherine
Godwin, Sandy
Gregor, Mariëtte
Haines, Charmaine
Heesom-Green, Dianne
Hoets, Lesley-Ann
Hön, Eugene
Jarvis, Jane
Kotzé, Karin
Lambert, Dale
Louridas, Gari
Luthuli, Sbonelo
Jonker, Niël
Maweni, Chuma
May, Meriel
Mogridge, Andrew
Nthunya, Sesing Frank
Price, Gregg
Rybicka, Amanda
Schlapobersky, David and Felicity
Scott, Johannes
Sherlock, Adéle
Shirley, John
Sithole, Nicholas
Spencer, Nada
Swart, Johan
Van der Merwe, Uys
Van der Walt, Clementina
Van Rooyen, Karlien
Von Bismarck, Wiebke
Walford, Andrew
Walsh, Nick
Walter, Guy
Wentzel, René
Wilkinson, Geena
For more information:
Visit www.rust-en-vrede.com/clayawards
Follow @rust_en_vredegallery on Instagram
To Breathe and Pause:
The Stellenbosch Triennale invites you to Rehearse for the Future
To Breathe and Pause:
The Stellenbosch Triennale invites you to Rehearse for the Future
By Ten x Collective
Posted Wednesday 4 September 2024
The Stellenbosch Triennale, a pivotal event in the global art calendar, will once again transform the historic town of Stellenbosch into a dynamic, open-air gallery from 19 February to 30 April 2025. The brainchild of the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust (SOST), a non profit organisation and supported by Outset Contemporary Art Fund, the Triennale that is free to the public promises to be a profound exploration of art, community and existence under the evocative theme by sociologist, sangoma and Chief Curator Khanyisile Mbongwa titled, BA’ZINZILE: A Rehearsal for Breathing.
The Stellenbosch Triennale debuted in 2020 with a bold vision: to elevate Stellenbosch, as a premier destination for multidisciplinary art in Africa and to create a platform where public art and creativity engage critically with society. The inaugural event set a high standard with its array of provocative installations and performances that challenged visitors to rethink their surroundings and themselves.
Building on this foundation, the 2025 edition seeks to push boundaries even further. As Chief Curator Mbongwa explains, “For this Triennale I want us to enter into a rehearsal space as a way of imagining how we can co-create in the real world, how exhibition making in itself is a rehearsal space for the things we want to do. And as such, I have invited artists to make their work on-site over a 10 day period that can be recycled or disintegrated back to land after the Triennale so as to minimise my carbon footprint by not transporting artworks back and forth. In this way, we get to enact a playfulness in the making and witnessing the work.”
This commitment to sustainability and process forms part of the curators practice of Care & Cure. Mbongwa – a Stellenbosch university alumnus who works within public realm, interventions and interdisciplinary practices – in this project heeded the call from her ancestors to mediate on themes that explore spirit, breath and improvisation. “I am in the labour of my purpose. My work is always expansive and a deep-time conversation with amadlozi (ancestors), uNkulunkulu (God/Source), and Abahlali (the collective of beings); as I move through and in the world, I’m invited into different geographical locations and called into spiritual ancestral indigenous conversations,” explains Mbongwa.
A Tradition of Artistic Innovation
The inaugural Stellenbosch Triennale took place at the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which cut the Triennale’s duration short and changed many lives. Project Director and Trustee, Andi Norton, draws parallels to this year’s exhibition sub-theme of rehearsal. “We had no idea that it would only be open for such a short time in 2020, we had worked hard and sacrificed so much and to have it all be shut down so soon was devastating. It was only after a year or two that we could start exploring doing another one.” Norton continues, “Only now can we look back on it and see the incredible rehearsal space that it was for us.
Through the theme, the curator is giving us, the organisers and artists, permission to experiment and play.” The theme, BA’ZINZILE: A Rehearsal for Breathing, invites artists and audiences alike to contemplate the act of breathing — both a fundamental physical process and a metaphor for resilience and survival. “Breathing in states of duress, breathing through wounds,” reflects Mbongwa in her curatorial statement, “we persist, we insist, we improvise our existence in a world that often feels like it’s losing its breath.”
Informed by the Nguni concept of UKU’ZINZA — being grounded and calm — the theme explores stillness as a mechanism for survival, a strategy for imagination, and an act of aliveness. In a time when breathlessness is a global experience, the Triennale positions itself as a space for reflection, recovery, and preparation for a different future.
A Dynamic and Interactive Experience
Unlike traditional art exhibitions, the Stellenbosch Triennale 2025 will be a living, breathing entity, constantly evolving over its two-month duration. The intention is to invite our visitors to enter a rehearsal space with us, where some works will exist in a space of improvisation, some in the space of composition and intervention, others in exploration – in the ways we negotiate our breath and ultimately our aliveness.
Assistant Curator Dr Mike Mavura adds, “We wanted the artists to think of breath in multiple ways in relation to the human body and to start to think of breath in expanded ways; what happens when you breathe deeply? What happens when you are short of breath? And then, what happens when you can’t breathe?” This conceptual framework will be evident in the diverse array of mediums on display, from visual art and sculpture to sound installations, performance, and dance.
A Curated Selection of International Artists across Multiple Venues across Stellenbosch
The 2025 Stellenbosch Triennale will feature an impressive line-up of artists from the African continent and beyond. Among the artists participating In The Current include: Alexandre Kyungu Mwilambwe (Democratic Republic of Congo), Aline Motta (Brazil), Aziz Hazara (Afghanistan), Lebohang Kganye (South Africa), Simphiwe Ndzube (South Africa),Torkwase Dyson (USA), Thierry Oussou (Benin) and William Miko (Zambia). “We will be showcasing a truly diverse range of practices,” notes Mavura, “from sound, sculpture, and installations with plant life to paintings, photography, dance, and performance. The aim is to activate all the senses, providing a holistic experience that challenges and delights.”
The featured artists in On the Cusp include: Astrid González (Colombia-Chile), Helen Zeru (Ethiopia), Kasangati Godelive Kabena (Democratic Republic of Congo), Manyaku Mashilo (South Africa), Nandele Muguni (Mozambique), Simphiwe Buthelezi (South Africa), Takunda Regis Billiat (Zimbabwe) and Tuli Mekodjo (Namibia).
A Rehearsal for a New World
The Stellenbosch Triennale will take place at the Oude Libertas precinct and across multiple venues throughout the town, turning Stellenbosch into a curated public laboratory for creative expressions and engagements. The collaboration with the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust and other local institutions ensures a rich, textured experience that reflects the unique cultural and natural landscape of the region, recognised for its vineyards and academic excellence.
This year’s Triennale is more than an exhibition; it is a call to action, a rehearsal for breathing anew in a world filled with challenges and possibilities. “Art becomes an infrastructure for cure and care,” says Mbongwa, “posing the question: if death is the given condition, how do we prepare to live?” The Stellenbosch Triennale 2025 invites you to be part of this journey – to breathe, reflect, imagine, play, and rehearse for the world we want to create.
The Stellenbosch Triennale takes place from 19 February – 30 April 2025 at Oude Libertas, the Woodmill, Rupert Museum and Stellenbosch University Museum. Entry is free to the public.
For more information:
Visit www.stellenboschtriennale.com
Follow on X (Twitter) @stbtriennale, on Instagram @stellenboschtriennale and Facebook @stellenboschtriennale
#StellenboschTriennale #ST2025
The Stellenbosch Triennale 2025 is supported by Outset Contemporary Art Fund, Afexim Bank, Remgro, and Heineken.
FOOD XX Awards 2024
Recognising 19 Women Transforming South Africa’s Food Scene
FOOD XX Awards 2024
Recognising 19 Women Transforming South Africa’s Food Scene
By Studio H
By Studio H
A group of 19 women from across South Africa have been honoured for their outstanding contributions to the food and hospitality industry.
The winners of the 2024 FOOD XX Awards have been revealed, with 19 pioneers honoured at a special ceremony held at Soetmelksvlei, Babylonstoren, on Wednesday, 28 August. Launched by Studio H in 2019, the biennial awards celebrate the remarkable contributions of women across the food and hospitality industry, recognising excellence in everything from farming and food styling to education, culinary heritage, and beyond.
“We were once again overwhelmed by the incredible volume of nominations,” says Hannerie Visser, director and founder of Studio H. “This only strengthens our conviction that women truly are the backbone of the food and hospitality industry. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we take the time to celebrate and honour their remarkable contributions.”
The winners were those who received the most votes from a pool of over 500 candidates. Nominations were open to the public during the months of July and August, with the judging performed by an independent panel comprising winners from the year prior – as is customary at the FOOD XX Awards. This year’s panel consisted, amongst others, of Dr Anna Trapido, Zandile Finxa, Khanya Mzongwana and Errieda du Toit.
“We are thrilled to shine a light on the extraordinary women shaping the future of our industry,” says Visser. “The FOOD XX Awards are more than just a celebration of their achievements; they are a platform for amplifying their voices and fostering a community where women can inspire, uplift, and support one another across every aspect of food and hospitality.”
The 2024 FOOD XX Awards winners, by category, are as follows:
Baker: Megan Wessels, owner of With HÄRT Bakery
Behind the scenes: Chiara Turilli, co-founder of Lello’s Deli
Drinks: Danielle Schoeman, the founder and distiller at Doña Distillery
Food Educator: Debbie Ayub, co-owner & principal of Sense of Taste Chef School
Food Entrepreneur: Daniela Gutstadt, owner and executive chef of Culinary Table Restaurant and Deli in Lanseria
Farming: Iming Lin, owner of Meuse Farm
Food Heritage: Mashau Mabunda, founder of Xigugu Royalty
Food Photographer: Ashleigh Frans, owner of Wide Wing Photography
Food stylist presented by Spekko: Simone Nel
Food writer presented by Spekko: Khanya Mzongwana, Deputy Food Editor, Woolworths Taste
Front of House presented by Krone: Katlego Mathobela, head sommelier at Proud Mary
Future Food: Roushanna Gray, founder and owner of Veld and Sea
Giving Back: Nolizwe Sotondoshe, founder of Nande’s Kitchen
In The Kitchen: Jes Doveton, owner of Acid Wine Bar
Sustainability: Latiefah Behardien, the Chief Technical and Sustainability Officer at Woolworths Foods
Legacy Award: Abigail Donnelly, the Creative Food Editor at Woolworths Taste, Eat Out Chief Judge and Food Creative for Woolworths Foods Marketing
Trailblazer: Zyda Rylands, the outgoing CEO of Woolworths Foods
Chef of the Year presented by ClemenGold: Jessica van Dyk, Chef Patron at Post & Pepper
Food Icon: Xoliswa Ndoyiya, former personal chef to Nelson Mandela and custodian of Xhosa culinary culture
“Our winners are paving the way for a future where food connects us all in deeper, more meaningful ways,” says Visser. “Their creativity and determination are driving change that extends beyond the plate – redefining our relationships, our communities, and our shared experiences.”
In the spirit of supporting women and the community that FOOD XX celebrates, the 2024 awards trophies were crafted by Brigitte Lilley (@beelilley), a former FOOD XX Awards winner in the ‘Behind the Scenes’ category.
Contact :
JC Landman jc@studio-h.co.za or Hannerie Visser h@studio-h.co.za
Follow @fxxd_xx on Instagram
Launching Design Week South Africa :
A platform for South Africa’s creative industries to showcase, inspire and prosper
By Design Week South Africa
By Design Week South Africa
Design Week South Africa, powered by Yoco, is a curated calendar of events and immersive experiences that will showcase the future of South African design through knowledge-sharing, inclusivity and support.
Together with Yoco, their mission is to create South Africa’s leading design platform. A platform that celebrates design as an expression of creative thinking and making, creates connections, jumpstarts collaborations, and cultivates the next generation of creative leaders.
The initiative aims to boost the local creative economy through product showcases, exhibitions and activations, while increasing both the local, and international public and media’s knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of South African design.
‘I have had the privilege of a career spent contributing towards, promoting and engaging with our local creative community. With an abundance of skills, opportunities, and energy at our disposal, I am excited to embark on a new role where I can help to create a platform that showcases forward-thinking design that is inspirational, educational, sustainable and economically viable for all who engage in it,’ says Design Week South Africa founder, Margot Molyneux.
OPEN CALL :
Occurring in Johannesburg and Cape Town, designers, brands and makers are invited to apply to participate in each city’s four day event. Once accepted, creatives will be included in a calendar of events that will consist of workshops, exhibitions, engaging discussions, interactive installations, performances, showroom experiences, food and drinks activations, exciting collaborations, product launches, walkabout tours and open studios.
Spanning all design disciplines, Design Week’s aim is to include the fields of Architecture, Art, Dance, Fashion, Food, Furniture, Graphic Design, Industrial, Interior, Jewellery, Music, Product Design and Urban Planning.
Each showcase, event, activation and exhibition on display at Design Week South Africa 2024 will be curated through the lens of their four content pillars: Space Sharing, Growing Collaboratively, Future Archives, Game Changing.
Link to applications : www.designweeksouthafrica.com
TITLE SPONSOR :
Yoco builds financial tools and solutions for businesses of all sizes and all kinds. They understand and celebrate the crucial role the creative industry plays in the economy and society as a whole. Yoco proudly supports Design Week South Africa, celebrating the many creative entrepreneurs through this platform.
Mmaphuthi Morule, Head of Brand Marketing at Yoco explains, ‘At Yoco, we’re proud to support Design Week South Africa, a platform that mirrors our own commitment to fostering creativity and innovation. By empowering local designers and creators, we’re not just celebrating their achievements; we’re investing in a vibrant future for South Africa’s creative economy. This partnership aligns with our mission to support small businesses and drive growth through meaningful connections and transformative experiences.’
FEATURED PROJECT :
The Modular Public Playground is a fantastic example of how collaboration and creativity can generate positive change in our communities. Aiming to transform public space into safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing areas, this three-piece installation was commissioned by Young Urbanists, in partnership with Urban Think-Tank Empower. Designed by Jeffrey James, and locally manufactured by Stonecast, these pieces are part of South Africa’s first street experiment on Langa’s Lerotholi Avenue, in collaboration with the Masakhe Foundation and the City of Cape Town.
‘Our purpose at Design Week South Africa is to encourage and showcase innovative creativity, expanding local design appreciation, and positively influencing our communities. Whether it be interior, product or furniture design, landscape or urban planning, the act of creative thinking can be a game changer – and we’re here to engage with it, witness exciting projects like this one, and ultimately celebrate it all’, says Margot.
DATES :
Johannesburg
Thursday, 10 – Sunday, 13 October 2024
Cape Town
Thursday, 24 – Sunday, 27 October 2024
VISIT :
As of mid-September, the public will be able to book tickets and RSVP to the various Design Week events through an online portal.
CONTACT :
Visit www.designweeksouthafrica.com
Follow @designweeksouthafrica on Instagram
