Art on the Mountain was a seven-week initiative by artist Hermien van der Merwe, created in collaboration with the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. During October and November 2025, Hermien moved her studio into a dedicated space above the Upper Cableway Station, inside Views by De Grendel Wines – a studio in the sky on top of Table Mountain.
An invitation was extended to visual artists to join her for one- or two-day creative sessions on the mountain. Both the venue and the cableway tickets were generously sponsored by the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. Over the course of the project, 64 artists enjoyed the rare opportunity to create art on one of South Africa’s most iconic landmarks in the heart of Cape Town.
Most South Africans share a strong sense of ownership of Table Mountain – this is our mountain. For Capetonians especially, its steady presence anchors daily life. Art on the Mountain became a collaborative celebration of this beloved landmark, the fynbos that thrives upon it, and the beauty of the city below.
Before reflecting on the project itself, it is important to pause and consider what art contributes to the world.
When Hermien thinks about what art and artists bring to society, she thinks of attention. Artists pay careful attention – to colour, to light, to emotion, to the fragile beauty that others might overlook. Through their work, they convey what they observe and inspire others to look more closely. That was what Art on the Mountain represented for her: slowing down, being present, and sharing the wonder of this landscape while building an artistic community. Each brushstroke felt like a quiet invitation: Look how beautiful this is. Let’s take care of it.
For almost two months, Hermien had the privilege of arriving at her mountaintop studio every day. It was an experience she felt compelled to share, leading her to invite fellow artists to join her for one-day creative sessions. Their response was overwhelmingly positive.
Many artists work alone, often isolated in their studios and deeply absorbed in their creative journeys. While most Cape Town artists know of one another, they seldom have the opportunity to truly connect. On the mountain, each artist approached their subject matter in a unique way. Every one of them saw the world differently, bringing individuality, dedication, and passion to their craft. The time spent together became a rare and inspiring exchange – a moment of community built through shared creativity.
The group was wonderfully diverse in age, background, and medium. Participants included artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolour, mixed media, pen drawing, photography, and plein-air painting. What united them all was a shared source of inspiration: Cape Town, Table Mountain, and its extraordinary fynbos, expressed through art.
Throughout the project, the artists engaged warmly with visitors and tourists, sharing techniques and talks about their art as well as introducing many international guests to the concept and beauty of fynbos for the very first time. These conversations became an important part of the experience, deepening the connection between art, people, and place.
Hermien is excited to have received an invitation from the curator of the Suidooster Festival, who asked the group to exhibit Art on the Mountain at the Artscape theatre in 2026 – a prospect everyone is eagerly anticipating.
Art is not only about creating — it is also about connecting and during those seven remarkable weeks, the artists celebrated that truth on Table Mountain, where the mountain meets the sky.
