If you’re looking for an art experience that blends introspection and interaction, ‘Van Horison tot Horison’ at La Motte Wine Estate’s Ateljee is well worth a visit.
The title, meaning “From Horizon to Horizon,” gives a hint of what to expect. It’s not just about pretty scenery, it’s about how the South African landscape continues to inspire different ways of seeing, thinking, and creating. Part of that inspiration comes from Lina Spies’s poem Blydskap, which reflects on the quiet power of the horizon and the passing of seasons. That idea of looking, noticing and reflecting runs throughout the exhibition.
Looking back to move forward
La Motte has a long connection with JH Pierneef (the estate holds one of the most important private collections of Pierneef’s work), and his influence is still very present here. His structured, almost graphic way of painting the landscape set a strong foundation for South African art. Other prestigious names like Maggie Laubser and Irma Stern also looked to the landscape, but each in their own way. Laubser through colour and mood, and Stern through bold, expressive brushwork. This exhibition doesn’t try to copy them. Instead, it asks: what happens when today’s artists respond to those ideas in their own way?
A mix of artists, mediums and ideas
The exhibition brings together fourteen contemporary artists working across painting, sculpture, printmaking, sound and more. You’ll spot subtle nods to the past, like the structured feel of JH Pierneef in Michael Amery’s work, or echoes of Laubser’s colour in Rentia Retief’s paintings, but everything feels fresh and personal. There are also some standout experiential pieces. Emma Willemse’s sculptural boat installation sits at the centre of the space, surrounded by delicate paper pulp drawings, while Conrad Oosthuizen turns Spies’s poem into a sound piece you can actually listen to, adding a whole new layer to the exhibition.
An interactive experience
What makes the La Motte Ateljee special is that it’s not just about walking through and leaving. It’s a space where you can appreciate and connect with the work, with a chance to get involved yourself. There’s a full programme of workshops where you can meet artists, learn about their process, and try things out yourself.
In the end, ‘Van Horison tot Horison’ is really about connection between past and present, artists and audience, people and place. It’s a reminder that the South African landscape isn’t just something to look at, it’s something that keeps inspiring new stories, from one horizon to the next.
The La Motte Ateljee is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 09:00 – 17:00.
