From 21 March to 21 April, Spier Wine Farm was more than just a place to sip wine – it became a glowing canvas. Various artists created 19 captivating installations that invited visitors to immerse themselves in a blend of light, sound, and movement.
Shining a light on important stories, the artworks focused on themes of environmental awareness, untold histories, displacement, and resistance.
Upon arrival, visitors received a map outlining the route, with brief descriptions and insights into each artwork. They could stop for a snack or glass of wine at the Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery. Then, they continued their stroll through beams of light that bounced off of trees, buildings, and the dam. Children ran through colourful projections. Adults paused, reflected, and sometimes just stared in quiet awe.
“I really enjoyed the Light Art, and I was surprised by how the artists used light to convey such powerful messages,” said Liaan Rautenbach, a second-year BA (Humanities) student who attended the exhibition twice. “My favourite was “Come Dance with Us”, which explored women’s unseen labour. The way it combined light and sound made it feel like we were dancing with history itself.”
But it wasn’t all lights and spectacle. Some artworks invited hands-on engagement. In “The Project for the Blind Astronomer” by Berco Wilsenach, star maps became a tactile experience. The information needed to interpret the charts was written in Braille. It encouraged a kind of looking that didn’t rely on sight at all. Meanwhile, people couldn’t resist snapping photos. Fitting; since Karla Nixon’s “Psst, Look at My Feed” used glittering sequin panels to poke fun at our media consumption habits.
Nothing like content creation in front of an artwork critiquing content creation, right? In the end, Spier’s Light Art was a mix of creativity and contemplation. Whether you were deep in thought or simply vibing, the experience invited everyone to think about art in a whole new light.
By Zandri van Greunen
