Art lovers are in for a treat this December as Veuve Clicquot’s Emotions of the Sun brings a burst of summer warmth to Cape Town - one of only three cities worldwide to host the limited exhibition.
Launched on Wednesday at Youngblood Gallery on Bree Street, the experience runs until December 21, transforming the gallery into a celebration of light, creativity and global storytelling.
Presented in collaboration with the iconic Magnum Photos agency, the exhibition showcases more than 40 works, spanning five continents, by eight acclaimed photographers - including Steve McCurry, Alex Webb and South Africa’s own Lindokuhle Sobekwa - each exploring the sun as muse, memory and universal connector.
Sobekwa sees this work as a grounding moment to showcase the power of light, specifically in South Africa, where his subject matter is usually centred on darker themes. As a photographer, he states that he was interested in creating new memories, looking to "dance with the sun instead of chasing it" in places he had photographed before, but in an altogether different light.
Spanish photographer Cristina de Middel has looked to turn Salvador de Bahia into a theatre of light, celebrating joy, freedom and abundance in unexpected places. She notes that the sun is often taken for granted, and hopes her work encourages a more appreciative and sustainable way of engaging with both art and daily life.
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Iranian photographer Newsha Tavakolian offered a deeply personal perspective on her country (and it's worth noting that it's one where alcohol is forbidden, adding a real sense of inclusion to the exhibition), as sunlight became a metaphor rather than a backdrop. Her work often leans into heavier themes, but with the Emotions exhibition, she chose to frame the sun as a symbol of "hope, empowerment and inner illumination."
Beyond the photography, the exhibition features an immersive "solar-inspired experience" that includes the Sun on Your Plate Café, with its menu curated by South African MasterChef winner Seth Shezi. Additionally, a gifting boutique is stocked with all the sunshine-soaked summer Veuve Clicquot accessories you didn’t know you needed.
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Why should you go?
Well, who doesn't love a Veuve bubble, right?
Beyond that, the collaboration is a fascinating creative statement about the world we live in by the renowned French champagne house founded in 1772.
High-end brands are increasingly aware of positioning themselves as cultural contributors. By partnering with photographers, chefs, designers and innovators, they're aligning with creative communities in a way that feels less transactional and more authentic.
It shifts the relationship from “brand and consumer” to “brand and cultural participant" - and we're here for it.
What you need to know if you go:
- Cost: Tickets cost R200 (via Howler) and include a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label.
- When: Open daily, 9 am–5 pm, 4–21 December 2025.
- Address: Youngblood Gallery, 70 Bree Street, Cape Town.
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