The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art is the latest cultural landmark to grace the skyline of Cape Town, South Africa. This incredible feat of engineering and imagination has turned a once-forgotten grain silo into an unmissable attraction during your southern African safari.
Who’s behind the Innovation?
This gallery, which is Africa’s largest, has been compared to MoMA in New York, Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid and London’s Tate Modern. It was the brainchild of the V&A Waterfront Management working with wealthy philanthropist, Jochen Zeitz, who donated his substantial personal art collection to the MOCAA. The Zeitz collection is the largest of its kind in the world and forms the backbone of the displays at the museum.
Building the Dream
Well-known architect Thomas Heatherwick was commissioned to turn the forty-two 33 meter high, 5.5 meter diameter concrete tubes into a space worthy of these priceless items. Inspired by some grains of corn found left in the derelict building, it took Heatherwick a year of consideration to come up with a working plan. The result is quite simply- phenomenal, with a huge vault of interior floor space carved out of the conjoined silos, glass flooring and an industrial feel throughout.
The V&A Waterfront alone contributed over R500 million to the development of MOCAA, and its adjoining luxury hotel which is built into the grain elevator adjacent to the museum.
Seeing is Believing
September 2017 saw the doors swing open on this staggering collection of art from all over Africa, after a 6-year construction process. The 30 m high atrium has been carved out of the interior of the grain silos, and the galleries are balanced within their walls with glass elevators and steel staircases leading to the riches within.
The visual impact is exactly what you would expect from a museum of this caliber, yet its sheer volume still causes you to catch your breath.
Art for All
Apart from its touristic virtues, the Zeitz MOCAA is committed to educating and inspiring all Africans to embrace art in all its forms. An entire floor of the 31 000 sq. ft. building is dedicated to education and 19 000 ft2 is reserved for artworks. It also houses a bookshop, restaurant and bar, reading rooms as well as a rooftop sculpture garden.
At present, the Zeitz MOCAA houses 300 works of art. These include pieces by Ghanaian artist El Anansi and local talents such as Mary Siyanda, Kendell Gers, William Kent ridge, Penny Sipos and Nicholas Hobo amongst many others.
Don’t miss the chance to see this amazing addition to Cape Town’s attractions during your Southern African safari. Get in touch and let’s start planning.
