Advertisement
Deep in the Olive Tree Manor in Bloemfontein, there is an art gallery that makes art within reach - the Olive House Art Museum (Oliewenhuis Art Museum). This Cape Dutch-style white building was once the summer residence of the South African president, but now it has become an art playground for children. Don't be scared by those serious oil paintings, the children's interactive area here has hidden mysteries: sculptures that can be climbed, replicas of famous paintings that can be "created" by yourself, and even a "sound device" room where screaming is allowed. Who said that art galleries must be quiet? Here, the sound of running feet and laughter is the best background music.
Advertisement
Get a free "detective tool kit" (including a magnifying glass, color filters and task cards) at the entrance of the art gallery to start the treasure hunt of famous paintings. In front of South African artist Gerard Sekoto's Street Musician, using a blue filter will reveal hidden musical notations in the painting; and using a magnifying glass on Maggie Laubser's still life painting will reveal a miniature lizard in a fruit basket. Children who complete all five clues can redeem a special "Art Detective" badge at the gift shop. There is also a special edition "Detective Master" event at 10 a.m. every Saturday, and the winning family will be eligible to visit the non-open area.
Advertisement
There are 15 interactive modern sculptures hidden in the 2-hectare olive grove. The most popular one is "Walking Man" designed by Anton Smit - this 4-meter-high hollow iron sculpture has a climbing net inside, and children over 6 years old can safely climb to the shoulders of the "giant" under the guidance of staff (don't worry, parents, there is a thick rubber pad underneath). The sound and light installation "The Voice of the Wind" deep in the woods will change the tone as the child runs, and the faster you run, the crazier the "music" will be. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes, as the water droplets on the surface of the sculpture after rain will make the metal as slippery as piano keys.
Advertisement
The "Rebellious Studio" on the first basement floor subverts traditional art education. It provides erasable walls, tearable colored tapes, and magnetic blocks that can be spliced at will. The craziest is the "Famous Painting Re-creation" area: children can use safety scrapers to "modify" the electronic projection of classic oil paintings (such as adding rainbow beards to serious portraits), and the system will automatically generate exclusive electronic postcards after each "destruction". During the "Master of Chaos" period every Thursday afternoon, staff will provide edible paints and allow children to paint their bodies in designated areas-yes, including the glass windows of the art gallery.
Look carefully at the 7 golden picture frames in the corridor on the second floor. When children stand in a specific position, the hidden sensor device will activate the miniature theater in the picture frame. The most magical is "Moon Girl", adapted from a South African folk tale: when a child claps three times at the frame, the paper puppet inside will start to perform. There is an unknown Easter egg - if you press the edge of the 3rd and 5th frames at the same time for 10 seconds, all theaters will perform in conjunction. This secret is unknown even to many staff members. It is an Easter egg designed by the former curator for his grandson.
Take the only spiral staircase in the museum (deliberately designed to look like a snail shell) to the roof terrace, where the "Smell Palette" garden is hidden. Each plant corresponds to the smell of an art genre: lavender represents impressionism, mint symbolizes cubism, and rosemary is the smell of African contemporary art. Children can mix their own "smell oil painting" according to the prompt card, and the finished product will be put into a special small bottle and taken away. Don't miss the "rain curtain device" in the corner of the platform on rainy days. When you pass through the water curtain, a giant food projection in the style of Claes Oldenburg will be projected on the ground.
When the sunset dyes the white exterior of the museum into honey color, you will see the most moving scene: small hands covered with paint tightly grasping the "smell oil painting" bottle, and children lying on the sculpture lawn to copy the world in their eyes. The greatest work of this museum may not be the priceless paintings on the wall, but its successful demolition of the wall of "art is very cold". Before leaving, remember to make a wish at the wishing tree in the atrium - it is full of children's drawings of the "future museum" concept. Maybe next quarter, you can see your children's creativity become a real exhibit.