Mount Nelson’s New Exhibition Explores the Power of Dreams

Featuring some of Africa’s most sought-after artists, Disrupting the Dream: Surreal Narratives is a bold new exhibition bringing compelling contemporary voices to the walls of the Mount Nelson. 

WORDS Gina Dionisio

The iconic Cape Town hotel continues to champion the arts with a bold new exhibition in partnership with the Norval Foundation, curated by RESERVOIR. On display until the end of October 2025, Disrupting the Dream: Surreal Narratives invites guests to step into a dream-like world shaped by the power of the subconscious.

Disrupting the Dream: Surreal Narratives draws inspiration from the spirit of Surrealism, an artistic movement that emerged in response to the anxieties of its time, including war, colonialism, and the mechanisation of society. This exhibition reexamines these themes as the world faces new political and economic crises. It explores the subconscious and examines symbolic narratives, cultural memory, and the interplay between reality and imagination.

Curated by Heinrich Groenewald and Shona van der Merwe of RESERVOIR the exhibition reframes Surrealism beyond its Eurocentric origins. “We started by thinking about leisure, slumber, dreaming and travelling,” they explain, “And how a flurry of fantasy could take flight within Mount Nelson. By creating a focus on the power of the subconscious, we’re exploring motifs within figurative painting and photography that reach beyond mere representation, examining the works of African artists from the 60s until now through a renewed lens.”

The artworks invite visitors into both the personal and collective subconscious, showcasing the fluidity of African storytelling and the strength of artistic transformation. Featuring primarily figurative paintings, photography, and mixed media, the exhibition showcases works by a host of renowned artists, including:

• Dada Khanyisa
• Aviwe Plaatjie
• Gregory Olympio
• Kate Gottgens
• Georgina Gratrix
• Wole Lagunju
• Portia Zvavahera
• David Goldblatt
• Zanele Muholi
• Berni Searle
• Cassi Namoda
• Dawit L. Petros
• Kudzanai-Violet Hwami
• Virginia Chihota
• Mawande Ka Zenzile
• Gerhard Marx
• Cheri Samba
• Richard Mudariki
• Karel Nel

Visit the Pink Lady, to experience Disrupting the Dream: Surreal Narratives, on show until the end of October 2025.

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