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FEATURE

John Bauer creating matchbox-sized tiles inspired by Vergelegen wine estate’s botanical treasures

Vergelegen is famous for five enormous Camphor trees, declared national monuments, as well as a Camphor tree forest Panels inspired by the botanical bounty of Vergelegen

Technical prowess patina over time. It’s great to allow the tile to
Discussing the technical aspects of producing get sun on it, to rest.”
the tiles, Bauer says he selected titanium oxide Discussing the placement of the individual
and copper for the glaze. These materials are tiles, Bauer says he followed several rules,
extremely volatile at high temperatures. such a starting at the top left of the panel and
“Copper has magnificent reactivity and, ending at the bottom right. He prefers darker
when combined with titanium, they form colours at the bottom of the panel and lighter
a ‘dance’ where copper kicks the titanium ones at the top. The panels are now on display
onto the surface of the glaze. This creates in the Café Fleur restaurant at Vergelegen, and
opalescence. Because it is so dense, the glaze are for sale to visitors.
of this opalescence has a different charm. It “We are delighted with this collaboration,”
allows you to see what is in the tile, but the says Vergelegen MD Wayne Coetzer. “Our
rainbow effect in the tile allows the eye to gardens are a national treasure and it has
relax. been an exciting journey to see how they
“I’m trying to create surfaces where the are viewed through the eyes of an artist as
mode of light radically affects how the piece creative and talented as John.”
looks. The angle at which you view the subject
matter can also make it appear completely The Vergelegen gardens are open to the
different – like lace from one angle, and public.
snakeskin from another.” Vergelegen Gardens:
Bauer says it was fascinating to watch how https://vergelegen.co.za/gardens/
the Vergelegen tiles developed after the John Bauer:
high kiln temperatures. “Porcelain is a cluster https://www.johnbauerart.com/
of millions of tiny mirrors, so it diffuses and
transmits light. It’s full of red light when it Information and photos supplied by Meropa
John Bauer with a panel on display at Café Fleur comes out of the kiln and that alters how you Communications on behalf of Vergelegen Wine
restaurant, Vergelegen
see the piece. It is like a metal developing a Estate.
n

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