the exhibitionToday is the last opportunity you have to check out the superb Kevin Factor: Painting the Town Green exhibition at Studio Bela in Morningside. Factor is a self-taught artist and photographer with a passion for all things green, and his art showcases the beauty to be found not only in natural settings, but also in the sprawling cityscapes of South Africa. The exhibition boasts vast canvases flaunting the skylines of Johannesburg and Cape Town set against vibrant, ethereal skies; bizarrely beautiful organic close-ups; and rambling snapshots capturing exquisite natural scenes.

The opening night of the exhibition was hosted by local celeb Dali Tambo, who is on the board of directors of the eco-friendly social enterprise, Food and Trees for Africa. A silent auction of one of Factor’s lovely framed canvases was held on the evening, with proceeds going to this fantastic organisation. The event was centred on embracing a more sustainable lifestyle, with Factor himself sharing a little about his everyday life in an off-the-grid community just outside of Knysna. I found it truly inspiring to learn that his expansive canvases are printed using solar power!

The exhibition itself spills informally... into the walkways of Morningside Shopping Centre, lit from above by five enormous lamps created by Heath Nash, an artist pioneer of recycled art. The exhibition’s eclectic blend of the old and the new; the artificial and the organic, truly stimulates a sense of awe and pride in the all of the beauty, both constructed and natural, that our country has to offer.

Studio Bela is situated on the lower level of Morningside Shopping Centre, corner Rivonia and Outspan roads, Morningside, Sandton.

Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 18:00
Saturday 09:00 to 17:00
Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 14:00