WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

Lucie de Moyencourt brings her distinct ocean-inspired aesthetic, ‘Shellegance’, to the V&A Waterfront as part of the annual Joy from Africa campaign. With more than 1 000 crafters and 190 small businesses involved, the initiative transforms the V&A Waterfront into a celebration of creativity and community, turning waste into wonder and handcraft into holiday magic.

Her showcase which was brought to life in collaboration with Quazi Design, Bishop Tarambawamwe and Ashanti Design, is on display outside Woolworths, alongside other awe-inspiring pieces throughout the mall.

For this year’s installation, Lucie’s signature ceramic shell designs have been reimagined as large-scale papier-mâché sculptures. “It’s a massive joy to be part of a festive campaign that champions locally designed, handcrafted decor,” says Lucie. “I’ve always admired the V&A Waterfront during the festive season – it’s unlike any other shopping destination in the world. Being part of it as a Cape Town creative is really special.”

The collection draws on Lucie’s ‘Shellegance’ design language, which celebrates the beauty and whimsy of the sea in a sophisticated, contemporary way. “I created ‘Shellegance’ as a way to bring shells into interior spaces in an elegant, grown-up way,” she explains. “It’s about indulging all your mermaid, shell-collecting fantasies but with refinement.”

Each of the 40 handcrafted shells – ranging in size from 40 to 70 centimetres – has been individually sculpted using sustainable materials and hand-painted in oceanic tones of aqua, turquoise, blue-green and teal.

“No two shells are the same – each is unique, capturing the natural beauty and individuality found in the ocean,” she says. “Local suppliers made metal structures inside the papier-mâché shells to ensure they hang perfectly on totems without bending; the shells are interspersed with other ocean-inspired pieces – such as sea urchins created by fellow artists – to bring the full installation to life.” | joyfromafrica.co.za

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Cara Saven Wall Design recently collaborated with artist Lucie De Moyencourt on Shellegance, a striking new wallpaper collection. The result, sixteen dynamic designs, is nothing short of a ‘shore’ thing.

On an autumn morning in April, when design-focused businesswoman Cara Saven, founder of Cara Saven Wall Design, and artist and illustrator Lucie De Moyencourt, each wrapped in seashell-patterned wallpaper, waded into the Atlantic Ocean, it was more than into a numbingly cold sea that they walked. It was into a tradition, one that stretches back to ancient times, of seashell-inspired art and decorating. For the seashell, with its abundance of shapes and forms, its subtleties of colour, and its intricate patterns, has lent its attributes to Greek and Roman antiquity, to Renaissance paintings, to Rococo furniture and to Art Deco motifs. In recent years, there’s been a renewed interest in the seashell, and it’s become part of an evolving trend dubbed ‘crustaceancore’.

The reason for Saven and De Moyencourt’s adventurous morning swim was twofold. In part, it was a form of quality control (more on that later); of greater importance, it signified the launch of a collaborative new project between the two creatives. One that marries seashell imagery from De Moyencourt’s popular Shellegance (a collection which began as a series of two-dimensional decorative ceramics and sconces) with Cara Saven Wall Design’s commitment to developing wallpaper ranges with local artists, under the banner of CS&CO. Titled Shellegance, the collection is the striking result of this collaboration, but it’s not the studio’s first with De Moyencourt. “Lucie was one of three CS&CO launch artists I approached early in the Covid-19 pandemic, primarily because I liked her art,” explains Saven. “But also, because she lived within 10 kilometres of me, at a time when we had no choice but to appreciate our own neighbourhood.”

“I love working with Lucie because, like me, she trusts the process,” Saven continues. “We both have super high standards, and also this weird thing where we don’t control too much but nonetheless make it work, only moving forward if the process is working.” A year in the making, the Shellegance wallcovering collection was not without challenges, primarily one centering around how many shells were needed for each design. De Moyencourt meticulously photographed and recorded numerous ceramic seashells, before working closely with Cara Saven Wall Design’s creative team to group, size and, finally, position them. “The result is a collection of 16 gorgeously coloured seashell wallpapers. And while these can be adjusted in scale and background colour, Lucie’s palette is so perfect.” The various designs, set against backgrounds of coral and aquamarine – and some against more neutral tones – appear illustrative; it can take a moment to comprehend that the shells reproduced are of De Moyencourt’s ceramics, and not hand drawn.

The project has been equally rewarding for De Moyencourt, who not only enjoys collaborating with Saven, but is also excited to see how the collection is incorporated both into commercial and private spaces. “As a former set designer, I love that first my illustrations and now my shells can be used on large surfaces at architectural scale,” she says. “These designs can be used at various sizes, from classic small patterns to a more contemporary oversized scale. It is so fun seeing what Cara’s creative studio can do; I can’t wait to start seeing these applied to walls everywhere!”

The launch of Shellegance coincides with another release from Cara Saven Wall Design, one that’s equally been a long time in the planning. After a period of research and development, the studio has proudly unveiled its Linen Seamless wallcovering, a surface that is not only richly textured, but hardy too. One that is both seamless and scratch-proof, like the studio’s existing substrates, making it equally suitable for hospitality and restaurant projects. And it was to quality check this substrate that Saven and De Moyencourt, clad in Shellegance-printed wallpapers, waded into the salty Atlantic. “Traditional wallpapers cannot go near water. Wanting to test the durability – and washability – of our new Linen Seamless substrate, we decided to print designs from the Shellegance collection on to this, and to take her for a swim,” explains Saven. “We immersed her in the ocean, pulled her out, immersed her once again. And she emerged looking like she’d stepped out of a salon, perfect!” | carasaven.com

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Cara Saven Wall Design has launched CS&Co, a new project that sees the local brand team up with three of its favourite Cape Town-based artists – Joh Del, Lucie de Moyencourt and Michael Chandler – on a new range of wallpapers.

Lucie de Moyencourt is known for her ink drawings and paintings of daily life in Cape Town and beyond, many of which narrate the ways in which people inhabit spaces, both natural and built. CS&Co draws on seven years’ worth of Lucie’s depictions of city life.

Clifton Beach by Lucie de Moyencourt

Artist, commercial illustrator and graphic designer Joh Del’s (Johan de Lange) infinitely detailed work brims with unexpected wonders and surprise. His signature palette of flat earthy hues that aptly celebrate South Africa’s abundance of natural beauty, from underwater life to indigenous flora, can now be seen across this range of CS&Co wallpaper.

Flowering Plants – Light by Joh Del

Michael Chandler is well-known for his hand-painted ceramics and fine illustration work. As part of CS&Co, you’ll find Michael’s highly-detailed drawings of nature, history and Cape Town transformed into large-scale wallpaper applications.

Cape Town by Michael Chandler

Visit carasaven.com to find out more about CS&Co.

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Chandler House‘s last solo exhibition of the decade, City Bowl & Beyond by artist Lucie de Moyencourt, explores not only some of Cape Town’s most beloved haunts, but the characters that energise its architecture.

Three years ago, Chandler House hosted Lucie’s 50 x City Bowl exhibition, featuring ink paintings of Cape Town that depict everything from scenic mountain peaks to the chaos of the city centre. City Bowl & Beyond is a continuation of that show and nostalgically begins where Lucie last left off: The City Hall.

In her latest version, the architecture – previously a focal point – stands down to allow rugby hero Siya Kolisi riding a sea of fans to take the spotlight. This work sets the tone for the rest of the show: Capetonians of every kind play the protagonists, while Cape Town spaces lend supporting roles.

The show is an ink-on-paper version of the digital gallery one may find in any long-staying Capetonian’s phone. From arresting mountain-kissing-seascapes dotted with sun-dappled promenade joggers to the bustle of bodies buzzing upon Lion’s Head and the glinting of previously-loved goods at the Milnerton Market; there’s a little piece of home for Mother City dwellers in every work. The show ends off further afield in the Klein Karoo, cracking a nod to where the artist may be headed in future works.

The show runs from 30 November to 24 December 2019 at Chandler House. For more information, visit chandlerhouse.co.za.

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Cape Town-based artist Lucie de Moyencourt is hosting a new exhibition featuring 280 individual sketches.

Having started sketching 15 years ago while travelling through Spain, Lucie has become renowned for her whimsical ink drawings that capture candid moments.

For this exhibition, the focus is on Cape Town. This will be the first time that Lucie is exhibiting her personal sketches from her notebooks. The unframed A4 sketches, created using a combination of watercolours, koi markers and ink, will sell for R1 000 each.

The exhibition coincides with a play showing at the Fugard Theatre, called Happy New Year, for which Lucie has illustrated the projections for the set.

The exhibition runs from 2 February (10 am until 2pm) until 28 February at the Voorkamer Gallery at Chandler House, located at 53 Church Street, Cape Town.  For more information, visit thevoorkamergallery.com or contact info@chandlerhouse.co.za.

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Cape Town-based artist Lucie de Moyencourt has experimented with ceramics for her latest sold-out exhibition, where she created 95 brightly glazed individual seashells.

The shells were made in the studio of local ceramicist Wendy Coleman. Lucie also gives many thanks to close friend and ceramicist Michael Chandler of Chandler House (whose sold-out exhibition Afrochine is currently on show) for inspiring her to delve into creating with clay.

Although the 95 shells are sold, Lucie does not intend on stopping her seaside project anytime soon. “I will be making shells for the rest of my life, so if you do not find enough shells here, do not panic!” she says on her website.

The studio exhibition, located on the second floor of Chandler House, will be open to the public on Saturday 8 December from 10am – 2pm and Saturday 15 December from 10am – 2pm.

Chandler House is situated at 53 Church Street, Cape Town.

For more information, visit luciedemoyencourt.com. Missed our video where VISI visits Lucie at her home in Gardens? Watch it here.

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Cape Town-based artist Lucie de Moyencourt shows VISI into her home in Gardens for a sneak peek at two of her favourite nooks.

These Fancy Corners are the perfect places for relaxation and to indulge in cherished pastimes.

For Lucie, there are two spots in her home that stand out, namely a corner on the verandah and her small second studio space. Here she can indulge in her books and sketchbooks, eat breakfast and create works of art.

Watch the full video above to get an inside look into Lucie de Moyencourt’s two Fancy Corners.

To view Lucie’s work, visit luciedemoyencourt.com or follow Lucie on Instagram.

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Cape Town-based artist Lucie de Moyencourt has opened a new exhibition, entitled FLIRT, at The Voorkamer Gallery at Chandler House.

While we’re accustomed to Lucie’s black ink creations, this new body of work, inspired by the birds at the South African Museum in Cape Town, sees her return to oils. “After 18 months of painting solely in black ink, this show is a joyful return to a full palette of colours!” says Lucie.

Despite not being a “birder” herself, Lucie loves to paint birds, fascinated by the shapes, colours and quirkiness associated with each species. Having visited the Natural History Museum since she was eight-years-old, she noticed how none of the birds have ever been moved, or even dusted really. “It is simultaneously sad, and also comforting, that nothing has changed at the museum. While the rest of the world buzzes on at astronomical speed, these birds, some of whom still look alive, have not moved a centimetre. I like to think that through my expressive brushwork, these birds find new life and movement.”

You can visit Lucie’s exhibition at The Voorkamer Gallery at Chandler House at 53 Street Church Street, Cape Town until 30 March 2018. The gallery is open from 10am until 5pm on weekdays and from 10am until 2pm on Saturdays.

For more information, visit thevoorkamergallery.com.

Lucie de Moyencourt’s Sunday Drives exhibition, featured here, is running until April 2018 at Kleinsky’s in Cape Town’s Sea Point.

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Lucie De Moyencourt’s favourite city inspired her to take artistic Sunday drives. Her ink drawings capture the spirit of Cape Town.

Architect turned artist and illustrator Lucie de Moyencourt’s latest show, Sunday Drive, continues her theme of exploring her love of the Cape Peninsula.

“I’ve called the show Sunday Drive because I start at the V&A Waterfront, then travel along the Atlantic Seaboard and all the way around the peninsula to Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak, Cape Point and Muizenberg,” she says, describing one of Cape Town’s most scenic and popular drives.

When we meet up with her, she’s already been doing the drive regularly, each time taking loads of pictures of iconic scenes along the way, some of which she has already painted.

“I am looking for a spirit of the times, to sort of capture us as South Africans and how we live in cities, almost like the illustrations that are done for newspapers,” she says. Lucie’s Instagram account, with nearly 50 000 dedicated followers, is brimming with topical illustrations that document her experiences, be it the opening of the new Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town or holidays in the country of her birth, France.

Sunday Drive certainly is not the end of her exploration of the Mother City. Lucie was born in Paris but raised in Cape Town, and she says there is still so much more of the city she would love to draw.

“The Cape Flats, Bellville and the Winelands, those are the three areas that I haven’t yet captured; they will definitely be in future exhibitions.”

The Sunday Drive exhibition is now on at Kleinsky’s Delicatessen, Sea Point, Cape Town until April 2018.

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Cape Town-based artist Lucie de Moyencourt’s latest work features a collection of 13 ink drawings of the newly opened Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.

The artist and architecture lover’s new collection of drawings are of the largest contemporary art museum in Africa, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA).

While most of the originals, drawn in Indian ink on Fabriano Tiepolo paper (297x420mm) are sold out, prints and postcards of the collection will be available from The Yard located in the V&A Waterfront’s Silo District.

“This breathtaking building by Thomas Heatherwick is a marvel of construction and originality – a post-industrial cathedral if you will. It is heaven to draw from any angle,” says Lucie.

Each original A3 piece comes in a Kiaat wooden frame, at R6 400 each. A pack of ten A3 postcards of the drawings will also be available to purchase at R350.

Visit luciedemoyencourt.com to view the full collection or to purchase work.

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