Art and the Winelands are a match made in heaven. You get to appreciate beautiful items made by man alongside natural beauty in a way that moves you. From sculpture gardens to galleries, wine estates all over the Cape have embraced art. Now, Durbanville Hills have joined the creative sphere with the recent launch of Art@Durbanville.
Hot on the heels of the Art@Almenkerk launch, Art@DurbanvilleHills have opened an exhibition that features a sculpture garden as well as a gallery that offers visitors a truly cultural journey. The exhibition features modern art that you can explore with a glass of wine in your hand. Kate Jackson, the Destination Manager of Durbanville Hills, says the outdoor exhibition space will boast an evolving collection of monumental works produced by both local and international artists.
‘The sculptures will be situated among the beautiful garden setting outside the tasting room instead of being housed inside a traditional gallery,’ she says. ‘This means guests can now look forward to a full sensory experience when visiting the winery, extending from the sculpture garden to the tasting room and restaurant.’
The initiative aims to bring internationally acclaimed artists’ works to South Africa whilst simultaneously providing a platform where South African talent can be recognised on an international level.
Dirk Durnez, the impresario for Art@DurbanvilleHills, says the aim of the project is to create a meaningful art experience that triggers powerful emotions, ignites stimulating debate and encourages social interaction with the various pieces on show.
‘The first exhibition incorporates works from three exciting local artists from various corners of South Africa, each bringing their own distinctive styles to the garden. Ruhan Janse van Vuuren creates unique figurative artworks that are both technically apt and visually engaging. Each sculpture is modelled on everyday people with each figure containing imperfection that draws one closer, creating works that are real and human.
‘The second artist, Marke Meyer, is essentially a poet at heart. Having abandoned the pen and paper in exchange for space itself, he now uses sculpture to create his own unique, quirky concoction of “visual poetry”. The final artist exhibiting is Andre Stead, who focuses primarily on figurative sculpture work and the development of contemporary sculpture installations in modern materials.’
The first exhibition runs until 24 June 2017. Following that, visitors can look forward to a full season of art including pop-up exhibitions such as the popular travelling Saadjies exhibition as well as live artists working at the winery.
OF NOTE
When Tuesday to Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
WhereDurbanville Hills, Tygerberg Valley Road, Durbanville
Contact +27 21 558 1300, [email protected], durbanvillehills.co.za
Photography Archives, Instagram