MITICO 3.0 at The Mount Nelson

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS © DB-ADAGP

Belmond’s annual MITICO series with Galleria Continua brings contemporary art to the Mother City and beyond.

Now in its third season, the 2024 MITICO journey begins at the foot of Cape Town’s Table Mountain at the iconic Mount Nelson, where internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Daniel Buren entices visitors to take a moment to contemplate his work – Colourful Halt for Mount Nelson, work in situ, 2023.

The artist’s installation, “Haltes Colorées” or ‘colourful halt’ in English, is a bold symbiosis of art, architecture and nature.

At the heart of the hotel, the new work surrounds the garden fountain – a true historical landmark feature, present since before the hotel’s inception. Known for creating architectural interpretations of environments through colour and stripes, the artist uses the fountain’s circular shape as his base, installing 3-metre-pillars which alternate between mirrors and stripes. This succession of patterns playfully interacts with the surrounding nature, resulting in an explosion of light and movement when visitors wander through it. In the distance, Table Mountain extends over the hotel’s silhouette, resting on Daniel’s fountain pillars and further integrating his work into the majestic natural landscape overlooking the hotel.

The famous Cape Town hotel is just the first stop in this global series – further commissions will be on display at Belmond’s legendary properties: Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro; Villa San Michele, Florence; Castello di Casole, Tuscany; Hotel Cipriani, Venice; and La Residencia, Mallorca.

Each MITICO work is designed to perfectly complement its corresponding location, awakening the senses of travellers and creating a site-specific experience that transcends borders. Through these works, the artist encourages viewers to find a new perspective on the beauty of Belmond’s architecture and expansive natural surroundings.

“What brings together the six Haltes” of the 2024 MITICO season is the beauty of each location’s environment. Celebrating nature and architecture, these six highly varied in situ works offer a new perspective on Belmond’s properties, fitting into a different space each time,” says Daniel.

The artwork will be available to view by hotel guests and visitors alike, until 15 February 2025.

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