By Njeri Irungu,
December, 9, 2025.
Cape Town’s Bree Street has taken on a radiant new identity this Decem
ber, as Youngblood Gallery transforms into a vivid beacon of colour, creativity and light with the arrival of Emotions of the Sun, Veuve Clicquot’s global photographic exhibition created in collaboration with renowned collective Magnum Photos.
Clad in the Maison’s unmistakable Yellow Pantone 137c, the gallery now stands as a luminous landmark in the city’s creative district from 4 to 21 December, welcoming visitors into a world where sunlight is explored not just as a natural phenomenon, but as a deeply emotional force. After celebrated showcases in Milan and New York, Cape Town emerges as the next chapter in the Solaire project, chosen for its distinctive light, artistic energy and cultural vibrancy.
The exhibition brings together forty powerful works by eight acclaimed Magnum photographers, each offering a unique interpretation of the sun’s emotional resonance across five continents. From meditative and quiet reflections to exuberant bursts of colour and movement, the collection captures the universal yet deeply personal language of light. Thomas Mulliez, President of Veuve Clicquot, described the sun as the Maison’s ultimate muse, noting that Cape Town’s luminous spirit and creative pulse made it the perfect home for this global showcase.
The emotional heartbeat of the project was felt most strongly at the official launch event on 3 December, hosted by award-winning actress Nomzamo Mbatha. The evening welcomed three of the exhibiting artists — Cristina de Middel, Newsha Tavakolian and South African photographer Lindokuhle Sobekwa — whose presence brought an intimate depth to the celebration. Sobekwa’s return home was a defining moment, with his series Blooming in the Sun anchoring the exhibition in local landscapes, memory and identity. Reflecting on the experience, he shared that seeing his work under the very light that shaped him gave it a profound new weight.
Public viewing officially opened the following day as part of Cape Town’s much-loved First Thursdays programme, inviting residents and visitors alike to immerse themselves in a multisensory experience blending art, culture and joie de vivre. Inside the gallery, visitors journey through Steve McCurry’s serene sunrise over Mount Fuji, Cristina de Middel’s richly theatrical scenes of Salvador de Bahia, Trent Parke’s sweeping Australian landscapes, Alex Webb’s layered portraits from Oaxaca, Nanna Heitmann’s contemplative Spanish imagery, Olivia Arthur’s quiet French summer moments, Newsha Tavakolian’s luminous Iranian narratives, and Sobekwa’s tender depictions of spring in South Africa. Together, the works form a global visual lexicon of sunlight — diverse, intimate and deeply interconnected.
Beyond photography, the experience extends into taste and texture through the Sun on Your Plate Café, curated by culinary storyteller Seth Shezi. His menu interprets sunlight through colour, flavour and form, echoing the optimism and vibrancy of Veuve Clicquot’s iconic Yellow Label. An exclusive gifting boutique further enhances the journey, offering personalised collectables and limited-edition summer pieces that allow visitors to take a fragment of the sunshine home.
In the coming weeks, Youngblood Gallery will continue to evolve into a living, breathing creative hub, hosting curated tours, La Grande Dame dinners and a series of Bold Conversations — intimate gatherings designed to celebrate audacity, community and the art of coming together, in true Veuve Clicquot spirit.
Tickets to Emotions of the Sun are available via howler.co.za at R200, which includes a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and access to the immersive exhibition, café and gifting boutique. Additional tickets for the La Grande Dame dinners and Bold Conversations can also be booked through the platform.
Located at 70 Bree Street, Youngblood Gallery is open daily from 10am to 6pm, inviting Cape Town to step into a world where light, art and optimism converge.
