AFRICA ILLUMINATION - Lighting & Decor, Riebeek Kasteel

AFRICA ILLUMINATION is a creative narrative, attending to the inspiration of an artist, the needs of a community and the imperatives of our planet. This story is woven into each piece of functional lifestyle art.

Several years ago Nico Rens, an artist with a background in architecture and interior design, moved to the Riebeek Valley, some 80 km from Cape Town, where he noticed how the beauty and charm of its villages was compromised by throwaway plastic littering the streets and pavements. He started collecting this junk and experimenting with making chandeliers, remodelling plastic bottles, containers and lids to be incorporated into the designs.

Enter Megan Willson, acclaimed theatre director, producer, actor, television producer, director and writer, performing arts educator and CEO | Creative Director of one of South Africa’s most select live experiential marketing agencies, 360 Degrees Production House. Megan saw the potential in Nico’s work for spreading awareness of and creating solutions for environmental issues, as well as providing sustainable employment, ongoing training and personal fulfilment for local community members and a platform for Western Cape artistic crafters. AFRICA ILLUMINATION was born!

AFRICA ILLUMINATION is a passion project for Megan, combining her love of visual storytelling with her belief in the power of the arts to change lives. Currently, four community members are employed full-time, assisting Nico with the construction of the wide range of beautiful and unusual lighting pieces.

He leader of this team is Johannes Dirks who was born in Tulbagh and grew up in Riebeek West. After struggling to find focus as a young man he has now found purpose and fulfilment through his involvement with the project and says: “Working with Africa Illumination is food for my soul.”

The functional lifestyle art range has been expanded to include the work of Nico’s brother, Gerhard Rens, a retired engineer who now focuses on designing, crafting and upcycling unique furniture pieces.

AFRICA ILLUMINATION has achieved considerable visibility in its short existence having participated in Solo Studios – Intimate Art Encounters 2024 in Riebeek Kasteel and the Stanford in Bloom festival. Nico’s work has been featured on television in DSTV’s Fiesta and some of his pieces already hang in homes around the world, including Monaco and Canada.

AFRICA ILLUMINATION’S unique functional lifestyle art pieces can be viewed and purchased at their gallery on the square in Riebeek Kasteel or online at www.africaillumination.co.za

A second showroom will be launched in Parktown North, Johannesburg, in December 2024.

Follow us on Facebook

Instagram