The Stellenbosch Triennale : Hosting the finest contemporary public art in South Africa calling the public to pause
The Stellenbosch Triennale has returned to South Africa’s stunning wine country for its second edition centred around BA’ZINZILE: A Rehearsal for Breathing. Running until the 30 April 2025, the Triennale is curated by the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust (SOST) and invites visitors to engage with art that challenges norms, celebrates cultural diversity, and explores the complexities of the human experience.
Chuma 2024, Godelive Kasangati KABENA, Stellenbosh Triennale ©JumpinTheGun
Internationally renowned for its natural beauty, history, culture, and wine, Stellenbosch is now home to some of the most trailblazing artists who are exhibiting exclusive public installations. The Stellenbosch Triennale, which debuted in 2020, set out with a bold vision: to establish Stellenbosch as a premier destination for multidisciplinary art in Africa while creating a platform where public art and creativity critically engage with society.
Building on this foundation, the 2025 edition aims to push boundaries even further. As Chief Curator Khanyisile MBONGWA explains:
“For this Triennale, I want us to enter into a rehearsal space as a way of imagining how we can co-create in the real world. Exhibition making itself becomes a rehearsal space for the things we want to do. And as such, I have invited artists to create their works on-site over a 10-day period that can be recycled or disintegrated back into the land after the Triennale, minimizing the carbon footprint by not transporting artworks back and forth. In this way, we get to enact a playfulness in both making and witnessing the work.”
The inaugural event set the tone with its provocative installations and performances, challenging visitors to reconsider their surroundings and themselves. The event tapped into the creative momentum reverberating across the continent, transforming the city into a curated public laboratory for creative expression while engaging with society's most fundamental question: What kind of people do we want to be?
Central to this edition of the Triennale is the concept of UKU'ZINZA, an invocation from the Nguni people symbolizing grounding, calmness, and stillness. The exhibition presents stillness not only as survival but as a strategy for imagination, persistence, and resilience in a world that seems to be losing its breath. What distinguishes the event is its immersive approach, encouraging visitors to slow down and engage meaningfully with the exhibits. This intentional curatorial stance, fosters a deeper connection between the public and each artworks and initiatives : From vibrant street sculptures to thought-provoking films and panel discussions.
As part of the Triennale, we introduce the Stellenbosch Specials, spotlighting key artists featured in the exhibition and offering a closer look at the creative minds shaping the event. Among which are Godelive Kasangati KABENA and Tuli MEKONDJO, whose work delves into themes of collective memory, breath, and the resilience of the human spirit. Their exploration of breath through the lenses of body functions, movement but also history and cultural heritage invites the public to reflect on the body’s capacity for survival in a world filled with disruption and struggle.
The Triennale holds the promise to become one of the most anticipated cultural events of 2025 offering a unique opportunity to explore art that challenges perceptions, honors diverse cultures, and addresses the most urgent issues of our time.
Join us in celebrating the groundbreaking work of diverse artists whose art captures the vitality and persistence of the human spirit.
Find out more at www.stellenboschtriennale.com
