A Cape Town Art Gallery Repositions Animation And Its Social Impact

Step inside the Ahem! Art Collective coffee shop and gallery on Observatory’s Lower Main Road, and you’ll immediately be drawn to the walls. That’s because they’re adorned with remarkable illustrations and animations you’re unlikely to see anywhere else in the city.

The Cape Town suburb of Observatory has in many ways flown beneath the radar on the tourist scene. Large parts of the suburb have also fallen into disrepair. Yet locals, predominantly students, artists, professional loafers, and young professionals, know and love Obs for its laid back bohemian atmosphere, quirky restaurants and coffee shops, and strong community spirit. Many outsiders tend to dismiss it as an off-beat destination only worth visiting if you have a very specific reason. But one new gallery and cafe aims to change all of that.

Ahem! Art Collective is looking to tap into Observatory’s rough-around-the-edges creative spirit with an exciting new art gallery and coffee shop space. The concept is based on London’s The Illustration Cupboard and has a very distinct social message. As an art teacher, owner Barbara Langridge is passionate about nurturing and developing talent. When the founder discovered that there was nothing quite like The Illustration Cupboard back home in Cape Town, she set about creating it from scratch together with curator Thea de Klerk.

Tim Probert – Travellor on display in Ahem

Ahem also offers a platform to a category of artists often marginalised by the mainstream industry in Cape Town. According to Langridge, the art scene in Cape Town makes it difficult for “non-fine art” illustrators to display their work, forcing many to retreat to the online world. Many animators also work in large creative teams, and seldom receive individual recognition for their works. Rectifying these two issues is at the core of their operation.

Greg Broadmore – Machinegun Samurai, on display in Ahem

Marc Bouer – Vladimir on display in Ahem

Most of the work on display is local, from artists like Ree Treweek, Thea Nicole de Klerk, and Joh Del, who sweat over artwork for big corporations or who simply create art for the love of it. But increasingly there’s also an international presence creeping in to the gallery. Russian Aleksandr Petrov, New Zealander Greg Broadmore and Nigerian John Olubunmi have all featured their artwork in the gallery.

The gallery aims to showcase some of the best artists in the genre, and to break down the stigma that often surrounds illustrators and animators. It’s turning the local scene on its head for the artists, and providing visitors a thought-provoking and engaging space in which to have an all day breakfast and a pretty solid cup of coffee. And when you consider everything that the suburb of Observatory stands for, this little gallery with a big heart is the perfect fit.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.