Spier Light Art Festival

WORDS Michaela Stehr IMAGES courtesy of Spier

Local wine farm Spier‘s breathtaking Light Art expo will take place for its third successful year on 19 March until 18 April 2021.  

Every evening, visitors will experience an 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.

Pather and Sadie 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
• Howdo you mourn? by Georgia Munnik: An array of colourful sculptures that invite viewers to reflect on the impact of climate change.
• We See Change by The Maak x ThingkingStudio x David Brits:  This innovative digital platform encourages connection and dialogue by beaming personal messages of hope and change. Like a beacon – opinions, desires and concerns about the world, during this uncharted epoch, shine brightly for all to see.

From 19 March to 18 April 2021, Spier Light Art will be accessible to the public. The experience is free; however, visitors will need to reserve a timeslot on Dineplan to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols and government restrictions.

Pre-book a sunset picnic online.  Delicious food is also available from the Spier Farm Cafe, various pop-ups, the Spier Hotel restaurant and Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery. Or just enjoy a glass of wine from the Wine Truck.

Audiences wellbeing is paramount and there are an extensive range of COVID-19 safety protocols in place, which includes mandatory masks. 

Spier Light Art is one of Spier’s Growing for Good initiatives, which empower communities to create positive social and environmental change.