The meticulously landscaped Nirox Sculpture Park in Muldersdrift, Johannesburg has become a go-to for fascinating art installations dotted among grassy fields, trees and waterways with dozens of expressive sculptures handsomely scattered throughout the park.
So when an event invitation email dropped involving a two day multi-disciplinary art experience – with a good mix of tastemakers in fashion, design, culinary and music & dance – to be hosted in this enchanting UNESCO world heritage site by leading gin brand Bombay Sapphire, it was no brainer that this would leave a lasting impression on everyone.
True to Bombay Sapphire’s versatile nature, it was here where a phenomenal collective of emerging female creatives – made up of fashion and interior designer Shelley Mokoena; multidisciplinary artist Ribane; and visual artist Tzung-Hui Lauren Lee – joined forces with Bombay Sapphire to create what become known as the one-of-its-kind ‘Wasomi experience’,
The gathering, which took off on Sunday with a buoyant overnight escape into nature at the chic and elegant Farmhouse 58, before culminating with an immersive and truly memorable interdisciplinary art experience, not only brought together a set of inspiring female art visionaries, but some of Jozi’s most loved and stylish media personalities, among them TV host and creative producer Olwethu Leshabane, actress and broadcaster Minnie Dlamini, as well aa contemporary visual artist Trevor Stuurman.
Hosted by the ever-gorgeous actress Nambitha Ben-Mazwi, guests witnessed the creativity of making every bottle of Bombay Sapphire and how it lends itself to being a blank canvas for refreshing gin cocktails, all the while immersed in engaging art, dazzling design, and moving musical performances.
These creative outlets were used as vehicles to tell the intriguing story of how the combination to the 10 hand-picked botanicals sourced from all over the world make Bombay Sapphire among absolute gin favourites the world over.
Wasomi; an mmersive dining meets multi-sensory art game changer
Wasomi is a phenomenal collective of emerging female creatives made up of fashion and interior designer Shelley Mokoena; multidisciplinary artist Tebogo Bafedi Ribane; and visual artist Tzung-Hui Lauren Lee.
The trio collaborated on a space focused on paying homage to emerging female creatives, alongside their more established counterparts.
Likewise, the Wasomi line-up was bolstered by the participation of sculptor and entrepreneur Fathema Bemath as she continues to break moulds with her magnificent, breathtaking sculptures – using clay to highlight the strong female forms in all its glorious ways.
As if this wasn’t impressive enough, rising visual artist Mmabatho Mokala, along with architect-turned multidisciplinary artist Nindya Bucktowar, captivated the audiences with their individual creativity, with the former’s art focusing on the subjective, sublime experience of physical space, while the latter uses clay and mixed media to create installations inspired by natural and urban landscapes.
Last in line to lull and let the audience briefly escape the madness of life with her majestic dance set and eclectic soothing sound was none other than the oh-so talented rising musical storyteller Sio, whose unique genre-fluid sound combining elements of jazz, house and electro music, recently saw her light up Spotify billboard in Times Square, New York.
Immersive art of botanicals sensory game changer
True to Bombay Sapphire’s unique distillation process, not forgetting the ten all-natural botanicals that go into every bottle, chef Leon van Deventer from one of Johannesburg’s most celebrated fine-dining restaurants – Gemelli – used a number of botanicals to build up layers of culinary flavours.
The starter (seared tuna infused with lemon and juniper) was a hit, while the main course (confit duck leg infused with coriander and cassia bark) proved to be popular too.
The dessert (touch of colour inspired by almond and liquorice) completed the gastronomical experience. All three courses were paired with Bombay Sapphire cocktails, including French Iris, Cubeb Side Fizz and Cassia Mule curated by Bombay Sapphire’s sustainability ambassador Leighton Rathbone, who ended the day with an interactive mixology class.
Participants were taken on a journey through botanicals, as they interacted with the finest ingredients available to come up with their own Bombay Sapphire cocktails. It’s no wonder why this will go down in history as a game changer not only for rising female creatives and lovers of all things art, but also to every gin aficionados who took part in the activities.
