The 'Fleurs de La Motte' Experience
When Paula van Coller-Louw began the instalment of her latest collection in the La Motte museum, the farm workers kept peeping around the corner and peering through the windows to admire the beauty of her work. These workers could relate to her paintings on a deeper level, as it is the very flora that surrounds them on a daily basis on the farm in Franschhoek and the vegetation which they nourish and protect.
Paula invited these inquisitive eyes in and it was one painting in particular that they were drawn to, the piece called ‘Cultivated Aromas’. This is an oil painting of the famous Hanneli Rupert Rose. A rose that was cultivated in honour of the matriarch of the La Motte family farm and cherished by all those who work on the farm. Paula said that nearly every farm worker wanted a selfie in front of Hanneli's roses and I can understand why. They are magnificent.
Fleurs de La Motte is a celebration of La Motte’s flora, combining the indigenous beauty of fynbos against the slopes of the Wemmershoek mountain. It is this emotion of colour, symbolic value and captivating detail of the tiniest and most delicate parts of the flowers that Paula has captured.
Along with the artwork of Paula van Coller-Louw, the most incredible sculpture named ‘The Blushing Bride’ is currently being sculpted in the museum by artist Toby Megaw. You can witness the development of this sculpture for yourself before it is bronzed later in the year and introduced to the La Motte gardens.
After the walkthrough of the collection by Paula, we were treated to tea and cakes at the Pierneef a La Motte restaurant. Caramel infused tea with a layered berry cake was on the menu, while the acorns from the old oak tree fell on the roof above us. An experience that was just magical.
You can read more about the experience here, as well as book the experience for yourself and friends. It is truly a worthwhile opportunity to spend the morning with the artists themselves and a good excuse to spend the morning in Franschhoek.
It was a morning to celebrate the beautiful flowers of Franschhoek and in the spirit of it, here are some flower inspired treasures on Hello Pretty:
