Nature has long been a source of inspiration for South African designer Laurie Wiid van Heerden. From stones and seed pods to tortoise shells and seashells, objects gathered during childhood walks helped shape his fascination with the textures, forms and details of the natural world. That instinct to observe and collect now informs Field Notes: Nature Recast, Wiid Design’s latest collection, presented at AAFRICAA at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront.
Developed in Wiid Design’s Cape Town studio, the collection marks the designer’s most ambitious exploration of ceramics to date. It brings together sculptural and functional works in clay, alongside pieces incorporating cork and glass. Rather than reproducing nature literally, the designs interpret its shapes and surfaces through material experimentation, relief and form.
Twenty-Four Ceramic Reliefs Celebrate Biodiversity
At the heart of the exhibition is a series of 24 ceramic reliefs, each depicting a different species. Birds, reptiles, insects, mammals and plants are translated into raised sculptural detail, creating a collection that celebrates the diversity of South Africa’s natural environment and the wider African continent.
Among the subjects are the secretary bird, Cape dwarf chameleon, pangolin, African moon moth, quiver tree and disa flower. Each relief offers a considered interpretation of its subject, drawing attention to the distinctive shapes and details that might otherwise go unnoticed. Together, the works form a visual record of the designer’s ongoing interest in the natural curiosities that surround us.
The collection extends beyond the reliefs. Ceramic seed pods and hawksbill turtle shells sit alongside tall vases and trinket boxes, while containers combine glass, cork and ceramic. Varied glazes introduce colour, depth and individual character, ensuring that each object has its own finish and presence.
Sculptural Masks and Material Experimentation
Another group of works explores the expressive potential of the ceramic form through a series of masks. Carved details, playful accents and distinctive glazes give these pieces an individual character, while three larger African Mask Sculptures introduce botanical references and create a more pronounced sculptural presence within the exhibition.
Across the collection, the relationship between natural inspiration and craftsmanship remains central. Materials are used in different ways to explore texture, surface and shape, while the objects move between decorative art and functional design. It is an approach that reflects Wiid Design’s broader practice, which combines curiosity, experimentation and an interest in creating objects that are both distinctive and useful.
A Meeting of South African Design and Craft
The collaboration with AAFRICAA brings the new collection into a setting dedicated to contemporary African creativity. Known for its curated selection of fashion, homeware, jewellery, art and objects by established and emerging designers, the store offers a platform for work that reflects the ideas and practices shaping design on the continent.
For Wiid, the choice of AAFRICAA reflects an appreciation of its curatorial approach and its celebration of South African craftsmanship, design and art. For the store, the exhibition continues its commitment to introducing audiences to new work by local designers and makers.
Field Notes: Nature Recast opened on 30 October 2026 and is on view at AAFRICAA, The Alfred at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, until 30 November. All works are new and available to purchase in-store. For visitors interested in contemporary South African ceramics, the collection offers an opportunity to encounter the natural world through a distinctly sculptural design perspective.
Credits
Justin Patrick – Product Images
Suly Kuhn – Profile/Studio Images
@aafricaastore @vandawaterfront @wiid_design
