NOSTALGIA by Juliette Marie Frančoise

On exhibition 4 April to 2 June 2026.

This body of works is created to capture the landscapes that shaped and moulded my youth. I grew up in a tropical climate in Durban, South Africa. The landscapes that bring the most beautiful feelings of nostalgia to my mind are firstly, visiting our family sugar cane farm on the North Coast where we would spend many weekends and where my grandparents would host incredible lunches overlooking the ocean, the green sugar cane fields and the myriad of palm trees. Here is where my love for palm trees was first birthed.

The Natal Midlands is another landscape close to my heart where my family and I spent many languid days lunching amongst the spectactular forest scenery and enjoying the Midlands Meander, stopping off at characterful spots for coffee and delicious treats. These memories are firmly etched in my mind and I feel such joy when painting them.

I have a large family of French heritage, with 51 of my cousins still living in Mauritius - I know, there's a lot of us! This landscape holds so many happy childhood memories for me. We always stayed, and still do, on the wilder side of Mauritius where the large white beaches are untouched by tourism and where my extended family reside. This is Heaven on Earth to me - large white sandy beaches, crystal-clear water, and palm trees. Yes, palm trees yet again! In this body of work, I create from memory and not from image. I have learnt to paint with childlike faith, allowing the art to develop and form organically from those memories I hold within. The colours I use capture the incredible emotions I felt and still feel in these landscapes. What are the landscapes you remember, and how have they shaped you today? What is is that makes you feel alive, that makes you want to return to it? It's good to remember the places you are from, as they have formed who you are. About the Artist

Juliette Marie-Francoise is a landscape artist who focuses on capturing the movement and energy of nature. She graduated with a Fine Art degree from Stellenbosch University and now pursues her practice full-time from her studio on Kloof Street in Cape Town. Her faith is central to why she creates, guiding both her perspective and process, while her attention to the small details in nature continually informs her work. She embraces a sense of childlike playfulness and a freedom to let go, allowing her to create expressive pieces rather than perfectly controlled one.