Some of the best things in life are accidental; we often find beauty unexpectedly. And that is the philosophy underlying the Nando’s project for World Design Capital (WDC) Cape Town 2014.
In partnership with Yellowwoods Art, Nando’s has launched the Accidental Art project.
Accidental Art (#WDC522) is a Nando’s-sponsored initiative currently taking place in Cape Town, which aims to bring art to the public by bringing it into public spaces.
Flow does PR for Nando’s, and I have been lucky enough to work with Nando’s on the Accidental Art project, ensuring that people in and around Cape Town and countrywide hear about this really cool initiative, which is turning the City of Cape Town into a larger-than-life art gallery.
The project kicked off in early July with a large art installation (a 7m x 9m mural) on the wall of the building that houses the Nando’s on lower Long Street in Cape Town. With the help of my colleague, Lynnette Johns, we hosted an intimate media event to unveil the mural and officially kick off the project (there was a very emotional moment as the artist, Xolile Mtakatya – whose work was recreated on the wall by international hand-paint specialists Colossal Media – was lifted up on a cherry-picker to sign his work).
This project is effectively split into two prominent locations (Nando’s on lower Long Street and Nando’s Kloof Street), with permanent and temporary art installations at both.
Thus far, many Capetonians have paused to take a moment to marvel at the multi-coloured mural above Nando’s on Long Street, popping into the restaurant to hear more about how the project aims to aid Nando’s in its commitment to supporting South African artists and showcasing creative talent.
One of the great things about the project is its “out-of-the-box” thinking in terms of painting #hashtags on Kloof Street in the dead of night, or setting up benches and an umbrella on the pavement outside the restaurant – daring people to sit, relax and take a moment out of their bustling lives to just chill.
The Accidental Art project is only partway through, with another large, permanent installation in the works. This next installation, a “half-square” mosaic ceramic panel, will be unveiled at a roundtable event with Nando’s founder Robbie Brozin in the first week of September.
The creativity and energy that Nando’s exudes in everything it does never fails to both surprise and excite me, and it has been a truly spectacular opportunity to witness the progress of this initiative and the art that it is producing!
Follow the project through its dedicated Between10and5 page and be sure to use the #NandosAccidentalArt and #WDC522 hashtags if you find yourself in Cape Town, sitting on one of the benches outside the Nando’s on Kloof Street, marvelling at the art!
