Woven into the fabric of the City of Cape Town for the past 125 years, Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, is celebrating its milestone anniversary with a series of cultural moments throughout the year.
With a colourful and storied history, The Nellie was painted pink in 1918, to honour peace at the close
of the First World War and mark the start of a new era for the city and the hotel. Located beneath the gaze of Table Mountain since 1899, Mount Nelson is more than a heritage landmark, it is a cosmopolitan haven.
It is the joyful home to the city’s renaissance in the arts, culture and gastronomy – through local and international creative collaboration. Here’s what to expect in 2024.
1
MITICO, BELMOND AND GALLERIA CONTINUA’S THIRD ART SERIES, LAUNCHES AT MOUNT NELSON FEATURING DANIEL BUREN
Marking the launch of Belmond and Galleria Continua’s third annual art series, internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Daniel Buren entices visitors to take a moment to contemplate his work - Colourful Halt for Mount Nelson, work in situ, 2023. The new work surrounds the garden fountain, a historical landmark feature, present since before the hotel’s inception 125 years ago. Buren uses the fountain’s circular shape as his base, installing 3-metre-pillars which alternate between mirrors and stripes. This succession of patterns playfully interacts with the surrounding nature, resulting in an explosion of light and movement when visitors wander through it. This bold commission reinforces the hotel’s role as the joyful home of Cape Town, kicking off its annual cultural programming. The artwork will be available to view by guests and visitors alike, from 16 February 2024 until 15 February 2025.
HOW: Click here to download the MITICO 2024 press release.
2
AN NEW COLLABORATION BETWEEN MOUNT NELSON AND THE NORVAL FOUNDATION, CURATING ART AND SCULPTURE ACROSS THE HOTEL
Embark on an artistic visual journey with Norval Foundation’s year-long partnership at Mount Nelson. Curated by talented duo Heinrich Groenewald and Shona van der Merwe of RESERVOIR, the exhibition entitled “Mother City”, encompasses a collection of artworks from the Norval Foundation’s Homestead Collection, including twentieth-century South African artists, as well as contemporary artists from the African continent and its diaspora. Key African art talent includes Athi-Patra Ruga, renowned for his dystopian exploration; acclaimed photographer exhibiting at Tate Modern in 2025, Zanele Muholi; as well as multimedia artist Dada Khanyisa. Set against Cape Town’s backdrop, fondly known as the “Mother City”, the artworks on display delve into diverse narratives, exploring themes of motherhood, care, and heritage through various mediums. This artistic endeavour enriches Mount Nelson with a profound exploration of contemporary art, offering guests and visitors alike, an entry point into the region’s rich cultural history.
HOW: “Mother City” will be on show at Mount Nelson until October 2024. Guided art tours with Shona and Heinrich can be arranged.
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3
MOUNT NELSON LAUNCHES AN ANNIVERSARY RETAIL COLLECTION IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, INCLUDING A PINK GIN AND TEA BLEND
Mount Nelson will launch an anniversary retail collection curated in collaboration with local artists, paying homage to the hotel’s illustrious past and exciting future. A 125-year commemorative tea blend and a special coffee blend nod to The Nellie’s iconic Afternoon Tea. An accompanying, bespoke tea set - a quintessentially Capetonian keepsake – has been designed by globally celebrated South African textile and fashion designer, Sindiso Khumalo. A limited edition run of Mount Nelson Pink Gin will launch featuring coveted labels designed by three Capetonian artists. For the first time this year, the hotel expands its celebrations to guests’ furry companions with a Mount Nelson x Chommies collaboration range, including luxury pet accessories modelled by the hotel’s very own beloved cat, Nellie, who has captured the hearts of staff and guests for 15 years and can be found roaming the Lounge and Verandah.
HOW: Click here to shop Mount Nelson’s exclusive pet retail
range created in collaboration with Chommies.
4
AFRICAN FASHION MEETS AFTERNOON TEA FOR ‘CONFECTIONS X COLLECTIONS’ THIRD EDITION AT THE NELLIE
Back for a third year, November will see Mount Nelson shine a spotlight on “slow fashion” concepts over designer-inspired confectionery, in collaboration with Twyg, an independent media NPO operating at the intersection of fashion and sustainability. An annual celebration of African talent, Confections x Collections (CxC) offers an elevated salon-style fashion showcase that focuses on the work of designers who champion a culture of care, deeply rooted in heritage. These creatives honour local artisanal skills and celebrate their continent’s fashion. Previously featured designers include LVMH prize winner Thebe Magugu, award-winning Laduma Ngxokolo of Maxhosa, and sustainable designer Lezanne Viviers of VIVIERS Studio. Guests can partake in a stylish tea ceremony with delectable sweet and savoury treats, tarts and pastries, accompanied by a selection of loose- leaf teas, all whilst enjoying a front-row fashion show by Africa’s most exciting designers.
HOW: Click here for more information.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Images of Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town can be downloaded here Archival images of Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town can be downloaded here Images of “Mother City” by Norval Foundation can be downloaded here
