The wave machine, by Roelf Daling.
The third edition of the annual Spier Light Art will be presented from Friday March 19 to Sunday April 18, where visitors will experience a dazzling array of light, sound and video artworks throughout this historic Stellenbosch farm.
“Although Covid-19 is a common storm, it affects us all differently – especially so in a deeply unequal society like ours. What is universal, though, is our need for light and lightness,” say the curators, Jay Pather and Vaughn Sadie.
They explain that while some of the works grapple with the pandemic, others offer “glimmers of pure beauty and opportunities to play”.
The installations include:
· Lume, by Egbert Westra, an interactive installation where visitors can use their cell phone’s flashlight to create images on a phosphorescent screen alongside Lucy, a light painting robot;
· The Singing Tree, by The Willow Collective, an interactive piece combining light, music and technology with design and motion. The music and lights around you begin to change according to your position within the tree, inviting you to further interact with the environment;
· Umdiydiya, by Wezile Mgibe: in this video, the artist reflects back on past experiences in welcoming and unwelcoming spaces and celebrates the connections between loved ones; and
· How do you mourn? by Georgia Munnik, an array of colourful sculptures that invite viewers to reflect on the impact of climate change.
The experience is free; however, visitors will need to reserve a timeslot on Dineplan to ensure compliance with Covid-19 safety protocols and government restrictions.
The best time to visit is at dusk, when you can catch both the beautiful sunset and the switching on of the lights. Visitors can also book a sunset picnic, or buy a meal from the Spier Farm Cafe, various pop-ups, the Spier Hotel restaurant and Vadas Smokehouse and Bakery, or just enjoy a glass of wine from the Wine Truck.
Temperature checking is available at the Welcome Station and sanitising stations are available at various point throughout the farm. The interactive works are all outside and spaciously set apart from each other; visitor flow is also monitored, and social distancing will be adhered to at all times.
For more information, visit www.spier.co.za