Local Somerset West mosaic artist Romé Zurnamer is adding to one of the Western Cape’s most beloved garden collections at Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West.
Her exquisite, highly detailed mosaic art pieces reflect the botanical richness of the estate’s surroundings, featuring colourful birds, plants, butterflies and insects.
Following the success of her first two mosaic works, which generated significant interest from visitors, Romé has now begun work on a third Vergelegen artwork, with a fourth in the pipeline.
The first piece Romé created for Vergelegen was in 2020, and it beautifully complements the long, narrow water trough in the Sundial Garden near the Stables Restaurant and Wine Tasting Centre.
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The intricate and colourful mosaics caught the attention of many visitors, leading to Romé’s next commission to decorate a drinking fountain in the East Garden. This area is home to an extensive collection of 15 000 blue, lilac, purple and white agapanthus flowers in 21 different varieties, which are reflected in the mosaic panels.
The panels have now been attached to the drinking fountain, making it a breathtaking feature in the garden.
Romé is also taking on a new project at Vergelegen. This time, she is creating a larger, more vibrant eight-panelled drinking fountain near the children’s playground, which will reflect cosmos and agapanthus flowers, as well as birds, in a more colourful palette.
It is expected to take two months to complete. Following the success of this, Romé will start working on a ten-panelled installation near the playground, which will feature tortoises, squirrels and other small creatures that visitors frequently encounter while exploring the estate.
Despite having no formal training, Romé has been fascinated with art for many years and has experimented with various artistic platforms, from abstract and fine art acrylic and oil paintings to indoor and outdoor murals, before discovering mosaics.
As a regular visitor to Vergelegen’s gardens with her children, she considers it an honour to create art pieces for these beloved surroundings.
‘The water trough at Vergelegen was my first commission for a garden mosaic. It’s probably the most special project I’ve ever had. It’s been a wonderful opportunity,’ says Romé.
‘All my current work has led from that first Vergelegen commission. I’ve now found my niche in mosaic and it’s a medium I love.’
Romé works with large sheets of stained glass, imported from Mexico, which she hand-cuts and sets against a background of reconstituted stone. This stone is slightly thicker than the glass, creating a three-dimensional effect. It also wraps around the glass’s sharp edges, making it safer for the playground area.
Romé creates her exquisite mosaic art pieces using large sheets of stained glass imported from Mexico, which she carefully hand-cuts and places against a background of reconstituted stone.
The slightly thicker stone not only creates a three-dimensional effect but also wraps around the sharp edges of the glass, making it safer for installation in public areas such as the playground.
Apart from Vergelegen, Romé has undertaken various commissions, including painted murals for the Somerset West night shelter as part of their upliftment programme, and mosaic school crests for Bishops, Somerset House and St. Cyprian’s Prep schools as leavers’ gifts.
Vergelegen Wine Estate is a provincial heritage site with 10 hectares of generous and intimate gardens that reflect the historical layers of the past 323 years. The gardens beautifully contrast the simple with the bold and the formal with the informal.
Visitors can enjoy viewing the mosaics at their leisure or book a heritage and garden walking tour. The tour includes the gardens, significant trees, the historic homestead and the library, and departs daily at 9:30am from the Wine Tasting Centre. To book, contact 021 847 2122.
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Picture: Supplied