1685 - 1712 - 1716 - 1724 - 1815 - 1834 - 1866 - 1885 - 1925 - 1927 - 1984 - 1993 - 2003 - 2025 -

1685 - 1712 - 1716 - 1724 - 1815 - 1834 - 1866 - 1885 - 1925 - 1927 - 1984 - 1993 - 2003 - 2025 -

Three Bones is an international Artist Residency with a distinctive architecture and a unique location in Cape Town, South Africa.

Designed by the award winning architect Paolo Deliperi and located adjacent to Groot Constantia, the oldest wine farm on the African continent, Three Bones Artist Residency is committed to fostering dynamic, creative collaborations and explorative contemporary art projects. Inviting creative practitioners from the contemporary visual arts, Three Bones Artist Residency runs a curated programme accommodating three artists at a time in a sprawling residence with a purpose built private studio for each practitioner.

What we offer:

  • X4 Week funded residency 

  • Generous contribution towards the cost of return airline tickets 

  • Complimentary chauffeured transport to and from the city and airport 

  • Private bedroom with ensuite bathroom  

  • Individual artist studio         

  • Common collaborative working areas  

  • Growing library of South African Art including related cross over with science and technology  

  • Access to a multitude of hikes and meanders, with property bordering protected heritage environments and the Cape’s fynbos mountain reserve         

  • Various dedicated entertainment spaces i.e. Playstation area, table tennis and pool table

  • Large swimming pool and extensive gardens

  • Fully equipped kitchen and a dedicated braai area

  • Complimentary dinners of locally inspired dishes prepared by a professional chef Monday - Friday  

  • Housekeeping services

Residency outline:    

Each artist is expected to respond to the unique nature of the location of the residency site in relation to the adjacent historic estate of Groot Constantia. Artists are strongly advised to engage in prior research relating to the origins of the site, its colonial past and connection to Europe, as well as its current place and relevance within the contemporary socio-political landscape of South Africa. Each artist is encouraged to consider, explore and reflect on notions of recorded histories, land, community and architectural heritage, as well as the area’s rich and complex natural ecosystem that contributes to the cultivation of the award winning, world class wines produced from the vines at this historic site.

Artists are free to engage and interpret one or any of these themes in the medium of their choice. This may include, but is not limited to, site specific temporary structures, land art, murals, markers and wall drawings, image projections, photography, video, sound and found objects as well as the more traditional mediums of painting, ceramics and sculpture. Whatever medium an artist chooses to work with, the requirement is that both the conceptualisation as well as the making and construction of the art work is finalised and completed during the four week residency period. All completed projects will be professionally documented and a limited edition print of the art work will subsequently be produced in collaboration with each artist.  

Founder:

Tarik Yildirim is a multidisciplinary philosopher, ex-technology entrepreneur and Harvard mathematics graduate. Originally from Istanbul he now divides his time between Amsterdam and Cape Town.

Creative Director:

Alastair Whitton is a curator and award winning South African artist with three decades of experience working within the local and international contemporary art industry. To date he has curated more than one hundred exhibitions and has collaborated with both emerging and established creative professionals. Based in Cape Town, his work and practice has taken him to the art world capitals of New York, London, Paris and Basel.