Africa Illumination is a creative narrative, attending to the inspiration of an artist, the needs of a community and the imperatives of our planet.
The story is woven into every piece of recycled material functional lifestyle art.
As with all magical works, this is just the beginning.
The real story begins with you and how you choose to illuminate your journey.
Our Creators
- Nico Rens
- Gerhard Rens
Nico Rens
Torchere 1
Torchere
Recycled plastic cleaning product containers and disposable lighters, wired beads, cut and threaded plastic and metal bottle lids, found plastic toys, off-cut wood, wire frame.
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Nico Rens
Chandelier 2
Chandelier
Recycled hand-cut and sanded plastic soft drink bottles, compressed aluminium coffee pods, remodeled plastic cleaning product containers, strung beads, wire frame.
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Nico Rens
Chandelier 9
Chandelier
Recycled plastic milk bottles, hand-cut and wired corks, plastic beads,
found wire fencing frame.
Gerhard Rens
Mensola 1, 2 & 3
Mensola
Mensola 1: Modern 2 Tier shelf
Mensola 2: Modern 2 Tier shelf
Mensola 3: Classic 2 Tier shelf
Africa Illumination is for the birds
One of Africa Illumination's recycled plastic chandeliers lives on a stoep in Somerset West. This pigeon decided it would make an ideal home for her babies.
AFRICA ILLUMINATION began as a non-profit project of FOR LIFE CENTRE which fosters social upliftment, development and reconciliation through community arts programs. Located in the Riebeek Valley, some 80km from Cape Town, the project is spreading awareness of and creating solutions for environmental issues, as well as providing sustainable employment, ongoing training and personal fulfilment for local community members and a platform for Western Cape artistic crafters.
Meet Nico Rens
Nico Rens is an interior designer, massage and reflexology therapist and artist. He is passionate about creating beautiful and practical objects from recycled materials and is involved in community upliftment and development through the arts in the Riebeek Valley where he lives with his family.
Our Team
01
Ada Markus
Assistant
Ada was born in in Malmesbury and grew up in Riebeek West where she raised a son and daughter with her late husband. She loves working with her hands and her dream is to have her own interior decorating company.
“By Africa Illumination voel dit asof een van my drome waar geword het. Ek hou daarvan om iets wat mense as niks sien nie te omskep in iets mooi en bruikbaar. (At Africa Illumination it feels like one of my dreams has come true. I love turning things which people see as nothing into something beautiful and useful.)”
02
Heibyn Warries
Assistant
Heibyn was born in Malmesbury in 2003 and worked in a cheese factory and for Hishtil Nursery in Riebeek West before before joining Africa Illumination.
“Ek geniet die werk wat ek nou doen, en is lief daarvoor om te leer oor die proses om rommel in iets moois te verander. (I enjoy the work I do now, and love learning about the process of turning rubbish into something beautiful.”
03
Ciara Dineo
Assistant
Ciara was born in Tshwane, Gauteng and moved to the Western Cape with her family when she was 6 years old. She is currently exploring her interests in the arts in preparation for her matric and her future.
“I love what we do at Africa Illumination – taking trash and turning it into items which are both beautiful and practical has opened my eyes to the many levels on which art can function”.
Chase the light
We'd love to hear from you, please get in touch.
Swartland Showroom
1911 Fontein Street, Riebeek-Kasteel, Western Cape, South Africa 7307
GPS: -33.3844667, 18.8919405
Gauteng Showroom
58 First Avenue East, Parktown North, Gauteng, South Africa 2193
GPS: -26.1409524, 28.0309961
