Cinema: Two feature documentaries, Solo Studios Intimate Encounters 2022, including world premiere, Sculpting This Earth

Focus on cinema: Two feature art documentaries screening at Solo Studios Intimate Encounters 2022 including world premiere of Sculpting This Earth, directed by Victor van Aswegen, featuring the work of internationally renowned land artist, Strijdom van der Merwe, who lives in Stellenbosch

During the pandemic and lockdowns, we pivoted to watching cinema on the screens of our personal devices and on TV sets. First prize is watching film on a big screen in a cinema and communing with others who become part of the experience. Viewing a film in an interesting venue, adds to the experience. A cinema experience with a difference, is on offer at Solo Studios Intimate Encounters 2022, taking place August 26-28, in the Riebeek Valley. Solo Studios is screening two feature documentaries in Die Kunshuis.  Die Kunshuis (‘Art House’) is a private home, built around the extensive art collection of art collectors, Mike and Lorna Spittall. In the basement of their home, they have their own cinema, Die Kelderteater which they have made available as a venue for the screening of the two feature documentaries, during Solo Encounters 2022. It is an extraordinary home and is not usually open to the public, so this is a wonderful opportunity to have entrée to the home and its amazing art collection and then to be able to watch films on the big screen- in the basement cinema – surrounded by art work. This is an immersive art experience – engaging with art and artists in the films – in a space which is filled with art.

Two films on at Solo Studios Intimate Encounters 2022

Solo Encounters is hosting the world premiere of the art documentary, Sculpting This Earth, directed by Victor van Aswegen, which features the work internationally renowned land artist, Strijdom van der Merwe, who lives in Stellenbosch. Van Aswegen’s acclaimed Displaced – on award winning Riebeek Valley artist Emma Willemse, has gathered international acclaim since its release at the of end 2020. This film has been awarded laurels at 57 film festivals on five continents to date. The film a retrospective, focusses on Willemse’s “universal themes of home, displacement and the traumatic experience of the forcibly displaced.”

Only 40 tickets are available per screening, for each film at Solo Studios 2022, which is an event, an experience, centred around art and artists with visitors having access to artists in their studios. There will be guided walks and talks, book launches, food, wine, entertainment and pop-up surprises. How it works is that visitors purchase passes to gain access to the studio visits, talks and other activities. Passes range from day to weekend passes and there is a premier weekend pass which provides access to a cocktail party on the opening night, Friday August 26. Tickets to the film screenings are not included in the passes and need to be purchases through Webtickets. Booking links in the box below. Click on the links and you will be directed to Webtickets. Tickets to the screenings are R120 and R200 for the premiere screening of Sculpting This Earth.  Bookings for films here: https://solostudios.co.za/other-activities-tickets/  To read more about Solo Studios 2022, see https://thecaperobyn.co.za/insight-exciting-riebeek-valleys-solo-studios-intimate-art-encounters-2022/ and for direct booking link, for preview, day and weekend passes, click here: https://solostudios.co.za/tickets/

❇ Image credits: © TheCapeRobyn/Robyn Cohen. Featured image: The audience at a preview screening of Sculpting This Earth, directed by Victor van Aswegen in Die Kelderteater, the basement cinema in Die Kunshuis, a private home, in Riebeek Kasteel. This 95 feature documentary, tracks the work of internationally renowned land artist, Strijdom van der Merwe, who lives in Stellenbosch. The film is having its world premiere at Solo Studios Intimate Encounters, which is on August 26-28, 2022 in the Riebeek Valley.