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Cone Virus by Gordon Froud -
Cone Virus by Gordon Froud -
Prehistoric Dice by Willem Boshoff -
Vortex by Richard Forbes -
Vortex by Richard Forbes -
Vortex by Richard Forbes -
The Blind Astronomer Collaborative Series Box by Spier -
The Blind Astronomer Collaborative Series Box Set by Spier
WORDS Debbie Loots
It’s no secret that there are many fabulous reasons to visit Spier, but right now we are especially thrilled about the three new extra-large installation art works gracing the farm’s beautiful gardens. It’s all thanks to Spier Architectural Arts, an initiative that provides ongoing support for and investment in African art and artists, launched back in 1996.
At least two of these three new art installations are as bright as they are bold, making it nearly impossible to simply stare and not touch – no worries though; visitors are invited to have fun and interact with the works as well.
Made of 1.8m-high Dayglo orange road cones and fastened with cable ties, Gordon Froud’s star-shaped cone-coction perches on the banks of the farm’s dam, near the wine tasting room. Equating his work to a giant virus, entitled Cone Virus, Gordon describes it as “a comment on industrialisation and our intervention with nature”.
Another colourful installation is by Richard Forbes, a red-painted steel construction that seemed to have rolled from nowhere to a rock-steady standstill on the lawns of the farm’s wine collection point. Titled Vortex, it signifies a portal to another dimension and looks like giant red domino pieces stuck together to create a large open centre. Certainly much less scary to try out than falling down a rabbit hole à la Alice!
Willem Boshoff’s work Prehistoric Dice (As A Homage to Change) is made of Belfast Black and Transkei Black granite and can be found at the farm’s conference centre. Consisting of three irregularly-shaped, polished granite dice placed on a black base, the pieces are immovable, so no picking up and rolling around any dice here, but it makes a perfect spot for contemplation, on how natural and historical conditions come into play to affect these distorted dices with meaning.
After enjoying all this art in the garden, stroll on over to the farm’s shop where a special range of wines, handcrafted by winemaker Jacques Erasmus in collaboration with artist Berco Wilsenach, a participant in the Spier Arts Patronage Programme, is up for sale. Named after Berco’s four-year-long art project The Blind Astronomer, this special edition Cellar, Chenin Blanc and Pinotage are available separately or in a beautiful gift box.
Berco’s The Blind Astronomer demonstrates the inaccessibility of the spoken word and the importance of sight while appreciating the aesthetic. The Blind Astronomer exhibition took place in association with VISI in Johannesburg last year (read more here).
