COLOURFUL RHINOS HOLD COURT AT THE TABLE BAY HOTEL

Travelling exhibition delights and educates visitors about endangered species

A crash of rhinos has taken up residence at Cape Town’s premier address, The Table Bay hotel, showcasing the work of South African artists and raising awareness against poaching.

These 16 rhino sculptures have been painted and decorated in unique styles by local artists including Moeketsi Moahloli, Andrew Ntshabele, Jaret Loggenberg, Claude Chandler, Sarah Danes Jarrett, Fadiel Hermans, Sara Gaqa, Cornè Theron, Androetta Bekker, Richie Madyira.

The captivating pieces were previously displayed at the V&A Waterfront, where over R100 000 was raised by selling t-shirts bearing prints of the colorful rhino sculptures. The money was split between NPO Rhino Custodians and the Emerging Artists Development Trust.

Initiated by The Artists Gallery in Cape Town, the exhibition “highlighted the creativity and passion of local artists while contributing to meaningful change,” said Jaret Loggenberg, MD of The Artists Gallery.

“The Table Bay hotel has a history of supporting local wherever possible, from our food suppliers to our locally hand-crafted Christmas décor. When we heard the rhinos were looking for a new home, we jumped at the opportunity to host the exhibition in our spacious lobby,” said The Table Bay hotel General Manager, Joanne Selby. “Our guests are fascinated by the exhibition. They want to own one or more of the pieces and, importantly, the display is focusing their attention on the serious issues that this critically endangered species is facing.”

The Emerging Artists Development Trust allows young artists to shine and exhibit internationally. “Both wildlife and art are both pillars of our country and society, and it is wonderful that this initiative uplifts both,” said Dr Julie Etellin, trustee of The Emerging Artists Development Trust.

Rhino Custodians spokesman Dr. SP le Roux thanked Artful Rhinos for the donation, which will be used to further deploy technology that enables rhino monitoring and rapid deployment of anti-poaching units.

The Artful Rhinos will be displayed at The Table Bay hotel until the end of November, after which the exhibition will seek its next venue. Visit the vibrant sculptures in the hotel’s lobby to appreciate the creative ingenuity, read about the project online, and donate to these worthy causes. You can also vote for your favourite Artful Rhino online at www.artful-rhinos.com.