Verve Magazine & Nomad Studios Confront Cape Town’s Housing Crisis in New "Cash For Gold" Exhibition

 "Cash For Gold" Vol. 1

On March 5th, Verve Magazine and Nomad Studios launched the first installment of an ambitious exhibition series: "Cash For Gold." Hosted at Curiocity Africa on Kloof Street, this group show serves as a visceral interrogation of value, labor, and survival within the fractures of late-stage capitalism—specifically through the lens of Cape Town’s escalating housing crisis.

The Vision: Beyond the White Walls

Curators and Art Directors Nicki Musik and Vuyo Polson intentionally stripped away the traditional gallery aesthetic. Instead of pristine white walls, artworks were integrated into a "shack-like" structure in the outdoor space.

By utilizing mannequins modeled after the people who walk Adderley Street—the literal "Cash for Gold" vendors—the art direction rooted the exhibition in the everyday visual symbolism of Cape Town’s streets. It wasn't just a display; it was a mirror.

Image shot by Lee-Mari Barnard

The Artists & Works

The exhibition features three artists whose work dismantles the romanticization of labor and land:

• Aurel Mokando: “Somewhere In Africa”

• Claudia Botha: “Elke Plaas Meisie Het ’n Toekoms”

• PJ Koen: “It Was Never Intended For Me To Enjoy This”

"Art is meant to be a medium through which we discuss the social issues we let go unsaid. We hope to continue to interrogate just how much our time and land is worth in exchange for the 'gold' we’re mining so hard for." — Curator's Statement

Image shot by Lee-Mari Barnard

Visit the Exhibition

If you missed the opening night, the full 8-piece collection remains available for viewing and purchase.

• Venue: Curiocity Africa, Kloof Street

• Dates: Saturday, 14th March – 4th April

• Focus: A deep dive into the cost of survival in a shifting urban landscape.