Groundwater Awareness Murals at V&A Waterfront

Groundwater Awareness Murals at V&A Waterfront

Client: WWF South Africa, Danish Embassy of South Africa
Location: Cape Town
Artist: Nardstar, Eske
Theme: Groundwater awareness

Free the Walls proudly project managed the creation of two powerful murals at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, bringing together Danish artist Eske Touborg and South African artist Nardstar to highlight the critical importance of groundwater in our changing climate.

Located at Makers Landing, these striking artworks make the invisible visible. Nardstar’s piece features Camissa, a water goddess named after the Khoi word for Cape Town meaning “place of sweet water.” Touborg’s “Zipper” shows a human hand gently unzipping the earth before Table Mountain, revealing the precious water reserves beneath.

The project addresses Cape Town’s urgent water reality. Following the 2015-2019 drought that brought the city to the brink of “Day Zero,” groundwater has become increasingly vital as an alternative water source. With South Africa ranking among the world’s top 30 most water-scarce countries and climate change making droughts more frequent, sustainable groundwater management is essential.

This collaborative public art initiative was funded by the Embassy of Denmark, AP Moller-Maersk, the Table Mountain Water Source Partnership, and WWF, working alongside the V&A Waterfront and City of Cape Town. The murals serve as both artistic landmarks and powerful reminders of our shared responsibility to protect this invisible but vital resource.

*Project completed in partnership with leading stakeholders committed to water sustainability and climate awareness.*