Against the rugged backdrop of the Karoo’s vast, sun-drenched plains, curator Liza Grobler excavates a compelling visual conversation that now travels from Oudtshoorn’s Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) to Cape Town. Opening on 5 May 2025, ‘Diepe Grond – an extract’ takes over HUB Gallery, inviting viewers into a terrain where art probes the physical and psychological boundaries that separate us from nature, ourselves, and each other.
Drawing its title from Reza de Wet’s provocative 1980s play, ‘Diepe Grond,’ Grobler’s curation delves into the nuanced tensions of the narrative: the delicate interplay between fact and intuition, the intricacies of South African interpersonal relationships, and the profound connection between the everyday and the extraordinary. The exhibition underscores ‘soil’ or ‘earth’ as one of the four natural elements, anchoring us to this small blue planet in a cosmos of unfathomable depth.
Liza Grobler, recently appointed Visual Arts Curator for KKNK for the next three years, positions the Karoo landscape as a protagonist around which this visual dialogue unfolds. The exhibition’s narrative echoes the physical geography surrounding Oudtshoorn, capturing the rich textures and vivid hues that define the Klein Karoo’s unique visual vocabulary. ‘Diepe Grond – an extract’ is not a mere mapping of a region but a probing exploration where ecological and sociopolitical landscapes converge, challenging viewers to rethink the boundaries they construct between self and environment.
Known for her ability to craft works that exist in both physical and imagined spaces, Grobler’s practice skillfully balances materiality and ephemerality. In ‘Diepe Grond – an extract,’ she invites audiences to traverse portals where fact and fabrication interweave, much like the shifting terrains of the Karoo itself.
After receiving critical acclaim and a KKNK Kanna Award nomination during its KKNK run, the exhibition now finds new resonance within the urban context of Cape Town’s CBD. Under the auspices of Spier Arts Trust, HUB Gallery continues its commitment to showcasing South African contemporary art that provokes perspective shifts and fosters dialogue across geographical and conceptual borders.
For Spier Arts Trust, whose mission champions successful art careers and creative freedom as catalysts for social transformation, ‘Diepe Grond – an extract’ aligns with their ongoing mission to connect artists with broader audiences and contexts. ‘Diepe Grond’ not only celebrates the artists and their creative processes but also highlights how individual narratives coalesce into a unified, impactful experience.
Exhibition Details: ‘Diepe Grond – an extract’ curated by Liza Grobler
Venue: HUB Gallery, 25 Commercial Street, Cape Town
Dates: 5 May – 22 July 2025
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM (Closed on Weekends and Public Holidays)
About Spier Arts Trust (SAT)
Spier Arts Trust (SAT) is a nonprofit, purpose-driven organization operating in partnership with Spier Wine Farm, Hollard, and Nando’s. Led by CEO Mirna Wessels, SAT provides artist career-development opportunities through initiatives like the Creative Block and curated exhibitions at prominent local and international venues, including HUB Gallery, Sisonke Gallery, and Spier Wine Farm.
About House Union Block (HUB)
House Union Block (HUB) is an artist career-development platform under Spier Arts Trust, offering fine artists new opportunities to exhibit and sell their work. Located at the historic Union House in Cape Town’s CBD, HUB connects fine artists with skilled artisans, promoting collaborations in fine art, interior design, and architecture.
For more information visit
- https://www.instagram.com/house_union_block/
- https://houseunionblock.co.za/
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