Simon Shone and Martin Osner's collaboration under "African Art Fusion" celebrates artistic creativity and cultural heritage. This unique partnership merges their distinct talents to create a diverse collection that includes bushveld landscapes, iconic places like Table Mountain, vibrant urban scenes, and abstract art. As personal friends of faith, Simon and Martin have come together through a mutual love and appreciation of each other's gifting and art style.

Simon Shone, a master goldsmith, craftsman, and sculptor, has distinguished himself with unique and expressive pieces since 1987. Trained under a renowned German designer, Simon developed a signature style that captures the essence of form and movement, often inspired by wildlife. His works, crafted in precious metals such as gold, silver, and bronze, are more than decorative—they are hand-crafted conversation pieces that evoke deep emotional responses. Simon's creations have caught the attention of notable figures worldwide, including sports legends like Ernie Els and Lance Armstrong as well as well-known politicians and celebrities. This collaboration with Martin Osner marks another exciting chapter in his continually evolving artistic journey.

Martin Osner's artistic path began with an unexpected introduction to photography in 1984, leading him on a transformative journey that blends traditional painting with fine art photography. His work is characterised by simplicity, honesty, and a deep emotional connection, viewing the world through a photographer's lens with a painter's sensibility. Influenced by great artists such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Henri Matisse, and Jackson Pollock, Martin's portfolio spans social commentary, documentary photography, landscapes, vibrant urban scenes, and abstract art.

In "African Art Fusion," Simon and Martin engage in various creative processes. Sometimes, Simon crafts the three-dimensional sculptured elements first, and Martin then creates the surrounding scene. Other times, Martin's conceptual landscapes and urban scenes inspire Simon's sculptural additions. They also occasionally work independently, later merging their visions into cohesive pieces. This collaborative effort highlights the richness of African art, celebrating the continent's vibrant culture and landscapes.

Through "African Art Fusion," Simon Shone and Martin Osner showcase their talents while exploring new artistic horizons. Their works are a testament to the power of collaboration and the endless possibilities that arise when two creative minds unite, offering a unique fusion of sculpture and visual storytelling. Through "African Art Fusion," Simon Shone and Martin Osner showcase their collaborative works at their exclusive gallery in the Clock Tower at the famous Waterfront district in Cape Town.

Fumi Hirai is a Japanese artist, entirely inspired by the African bush, who strives to capture beauty, simplicity, and delicate details in her nature photographs of animals. Fumi was born and raised in Japan. From a young age, her mother, a calligraphy teacher, exposed her to exhibitions and galleries, which influenced Fumi’s love of photography. Going on safari in Africa was a dream she had since childhood. While a student in her twenties, she went to Southern Africa with her first SLR camera. Since then, she has used every opportunity to return to Africa to capture its wildlife in pictures. In Tokyo, Hirai spent many hours in the darkroom developing photos, mainly street photography and travel photos from Africa and South East Asia. Her wildlife prints have received recognition in Japan, and now after moving to Cape Town, her passion for photography expanded from wildlife to include landscape and seascape photography. Proceeds of sales in this collection will be donated by the artist to the Love4Lee fund.

Hougaard Malan is well known in local and international fine-art landscape circles for his uncompromising attention to the technical considerations of his craft. Combined with an instinctively creative eye, he is considered by many to be South Africa’sleading landscape, fine-art photographer. READ MORE >> 

Ramzi Mansour was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1973 of Lebanese and Hungarian descent. After graduating from University in Canada, he built up successful businesses in Nigeria in power generation, investment and venture capitalism. In his late forties, he focused on philanthropy, supporting charitable causes and exploring the creative arts.

He moved to Cape Town in 2017, and it was here that he picked up a camera for the first time. Photographs he took of a friend’s son ended up on the desk of a modelling agency, and with this, his new career as a photographer took off. Since then, he has become known for his black-and-white portraiture of women and has been published in many magazines, both print and online. Mansour and his wife produced a coffee table book called “Resilience” which tells the stories of 42 South African women and their journeys with cancer. The book was exhibited in the UAE in partnership with Leica Dubai, with the digital version having now been downloaded over 300 000 times. “Resilience” was donated to medical organisations in six countries worldwide, and the download was made available at no charge. Mansour was named a Leica Ambassador in 2021.

Mansour’s focus on philanthropy allows his photography to remain self-funded. He lives in Cape Town, South Africa, with his wife, Nicole, and two children.