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Dreamscapes
2026

Dreamscapes

Stellenbosch, South Africa

Curated by Dr Mike Mavura

26 February 2026 – 30 January 2027


There is a creative spirit that flows in these Stellenbosch streets, in Dorp Street, up Church Street, and down Ryneveld too. Many other routes have this creative drive, and everywhere you look, bespoke craft reverberates. These streets, layered with multiple threads of history and a rich cultural scene, emit the vibrancy of breath, like a constantly evolving museum of creativity in flow. The sculptural forms in this exhibition add to this town’s dreamscape, unfolding on sidewalks, on building walls, and in other quotidian spaces. Dotted around town, these artworks form an improvised art route designed for unexpected encounters with the public. Presented in various size connotations, these three-dimensional works use scale as an important measure of our sense of perception. We wonder about the perception of a larger-than-life sculpture from the viewpoint of a child or an adult’s impression of a sculpture that functions as a bike stand or a bench. New sensory perceptions, wonder, and a sense of playfulness abound in the works through colour, form and shape. These artworks focus on diverse themes through storytelling in concrete, bronze, wire and other materials, which encourage us to remember the value of shared space, to think about the connections between nature and technology and the fungibility of waste and materials of contemporary life. Together, these works form a dreamscape that celebrates the power of imagination whilst nudging our individual curiosities to dream on and dream big.


Presented by the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust, Visit Stellenbosch, and proud patron Private Clients by Old Mutual Wealth.

Curatorial Team

Dr Mike Tigere Mavura

Dr Mike Tigere Mavura

Trustee

Dr Mike Mavura is an independent art curator, cultural strategist, and educator with a PhD in Political Science. His multidisciplinary work spans curatorial projects like the Stellenbosch Triennale and education roles at institutions such as Rhodes University and the University of Bergen. He is currently developing Pamurove, a learning site in Zimbabwe where art and design intersect with ecology and agrarian practices, reflecting his dedication to thoughtful civic engagement and cultural education.

Dr Mike Tigere Mavura

Dr Mike Tigere Mavura

ST2020 + ST2025
Assistant Curator

Dr. Mike Mavura leads Pamurove Foundation, a land-based social practice in Domboshava, Zimbabwe, blending social sciences, indigenous knowledge, and popular culture to explore civics, spaces, and design. His work spans curatorial projects, ecological interventions, rural design, and university teaching. Mavura’s fellowships include Liverpool Biennial Curators’ Week (2023), TURN2 Residency at ZK/U Berlin (2021), and Lagos Biennale Residency (2019). He holds a PhD in Politics from Rhodes University and a certificate in Conservation Agriculture from the Foundations for Farming Institute. He serves on the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust and ZK/U Berlin’s Advisory Board.

Featured Artworks

A beginner's mind
A beginner's mind

Josefine Winding

2026

Accidental Tourist
Accidental Tourist

Strijdom van der Merwe

2012

Building Block
Building Block

SOST Project

2026

Coffee Cups
Coffee Cups

Mandilakhe Belem

2018

Dark Horse
Dark Horse

Jess Bothma

2024

Draadkar
Draadkar

Philipstown WireCar

2026

Falsework II
Falsework II

Kyle Morland

2013

Five Things Found
Five Things Found

Marne Viljoen

2018

Giant Grass
Giant Grass

Ralph Borland

2020

Infinitely Becoming
Infinitely Becoming

Faatimah Mohamed-Luke

2026

Monkey Business
Monkey Business

Wilma Cruise

2015

Pedal Power
Pedal Power

Jaco Sieberhagen

2018

Silicon Swarm Series
Silicon Swarm Series

Francois Knoetze

2023

Staircase to Heaven
Staircase to Heaven

Strijdom van der Merwe

2026

Starling
Starling

Ralph Borland

2020

The Rain Taster
The Rain Taster

Frank van Reenen

2019

The carnival (no dogs allowed)
The carnival (no dogs allowed)

Jaco Sieberhagen

2013

‘The trees spoke to me softly of their desire to walk’
‘The trees spoke to me softly of their desire to walk’

Jess Bothma

2026

Featured Artists

Faatimah Mohamed-Luke

Faatimah Mohamed-Luke

B. 1982

South Africa

Francois Knoetze

Francois Knoetze

B. 1989

South Africa

Frank van Reenen

Frank van Reenen

B. 1969

South Africa

Jaco Sieberhagen

Jaco Sieberhagen

B. 1961

South Africa

Jess Bothma

Jess Bothma

B. 1991

South Africa

Josefine Winding

Josefine Winding

B.

Denmark

Kyle Morland

Kyle Morland

B. 1986

South Africa

Mandilakhe Belem

Mandilakhe Belem

B. 1992

South Africa

Marne Viljoen

Marne Viljoen

B.

South Africa

Philipstown WireCar Foundation

Philipstown WireCar Foundation

F. 2024

South Africa

Ralph Borland

Ralph Borland

B. 1974

South Africa

Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust

Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust

F. 2012

South Africa

Strijdom van der Merwe

Strijdom van der Merwe

B. 1961

South Africa

Wilma Cruise

Wilma Cruise

B. 1945

South Africa

Artist

Artists from exhibitions and projects that form part of the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust (SOST) archive.

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