The 2025 edition of Spier Light Art is set to illuminate the Stellenbosch wine farm, for the seventh time, from 21 March to 21 April 2025.
Every year the choice of artworks reinforces the innovation, boldness and experimentalness of South African artists. Playful, provocative, reflective and engaging – each iteration of the event encourages viewers to contemplate what it means to live in this intriguing, diverse, complicated and hopeful nation.
Artists and designers (professionals, students and institutions) are invited to submit expressions of interest for light artworks and video art that engage all age groups. Light should be a central element and experiment and innovation are encouraged.
The project will completely or partially fund installations chosen by the selection committee, headed by curators Jay Pather and Vaughn Sadie. The selection is not confined to a theme, but artists may be prompted by the ethereal and whimsical, artworks that speak to technology, issues affecting SA, resilience, enchantment and exuberance, and the working wine farm.
Categories of work may include: site-specific work (designed to be displayed in particular places at Spier); sculptural, object-based work; interactive art; digital works that foreground technology; and video art
Expressions of interest must include artist, collective or studio biographies of all involved (200 words) as well as a short overview of the conceptual interests of the work, specifying which category the submission falls under (300 words). It must also have a concise description of the work, including concept sketches (300 words), along with a description of the use of light in the work (150 words).
Furthermore, the submission must include a description of the audience interaction or engagement with the work, but ideally a video (150 words) as well as a provisional but realistic and well-considered budget, indicating whether it is to be funded entirely or in part by the Spier Arts Trust and. Also include web links to and/or images of the proposed work or, if not already developed, examples of previous work.
An on-site briefing will be held on Saturday 8 June at 10:30. Those wishing to attend can reserve their place by sending an email to lightart@spier.co.za.
Expressions of interest must be sent to the project manager on lightart@spier.co.za before Saturday 6 July. A more thorough proposal may be requested after the shortlist is announced.
