Public art is a risky business in Cape Town, considering the defacement of Michael Elion's Ray Ban Mandela sculpture on the Sea Point promenade last year, and the Cecil John Rhodes statue at UCT more recently.
But one public art installation has had locals smiling, rather than plotting its downfall.
Created by award-winning filmmaker Bryan Little, The Endemic Project is a series of creatures, seemingly painted with light, that appear as you drive along Rhodes Drive from the Kirstenbosch bottom main entrance towards Constantia Nek circle. If you download the geo-tagged soundtrack, as you drive past each creature, you trigger a soundscape made from its voice.
Endemic species are found nowhere else in the world, so each creature you see is unique to the Western Cape and the fynbos floral kingdom, from the Geometric Tortoise to the Orange-Breasted Sunbird to the Ghost Frog, says Bryan. However, none of them are found along Rhodes Drive any more. They could still exist in the area if the alien trees they are nailed to weren't there. It's an interesting frontline between comfort and conservation, indicative of a global struggle.
Bryan made the creatures with reflector tape. I love that it requires light to work, and also that it's normally used as a warning signal. Our natural heritage is our most valuable resource, so we need to start listening to the warning signs.
NASA had the same challenges as these modern heroes - the conservationists. How do you get people excited about something as abstract as space? Their solution was to strap a human into a rocket and shoot him into space. Pretty out there, but add a human element and suddenly the public are fascinated. Sadly for many people, the natural world and species extinction is also an abstract thing, so for this project I wanted to turn people's cars into spaceships to take them on a journey to explore their back garden.
The soundtrack, arranged by Sylvan Aztok, is available from https://voicemap.me/endemic. Voice Map is a locally-designed, location-aware technology for telling stories about places.
Bryan came up with the idea after a dinner conversation with legendary film director Peter Greenaway. In the last 100 years, the way we experience cinema hasnt changed. This experiment is one of my first forays into what I call future film,' where I am trying to find new ways to tell stories, new ways to be a filmmaker. I deliberately kept it very simple and only played with certain elements. Remove the camera - place the audience into the experience. Make it site specific - you have to be there. Let the car's motion be the element of time and narrative.
The installation is best experienced at night, driving 50km/hour. For best results, use headphones and a hands-free kit, or if sharing the experience, play through the car sound system, using Bluetooth or your auxiliary cable.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/theEndemicProject or join the conversation on social media using #endemicproject.
See more of Bryan's work at http://www.flyonthewall.co.za/bryanlittle/.
Listen to more of Sylvan's music at http://www.sylvanaztok.com/.
What people are saying on Facebook:
Totally, utterly inspired by this work... Its like being in a fantasy world, yet realising at the same time that its our real world. I was almost breathless driving along Rhodes Drive the other night... Brought back feelings of anticipation and excitement that I have not had since I was a child. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this outstanding installation. I cannot put words to the gratitude I feel.
Vanessa Thomas
I saw this for the first time last night. My heart just opened. Felt like I was in a magic kingdom. Really reminded me to show reverence for the small creatures that make our lives so very beautiful. Well done on a magnificent project!
Tania Bownes
Isnt it magical to drive through and see this amazing project along the road? I was like WOW the 1st time I saw this and felt like Alice in Wonderland. What a beautiful project!! Thank you for your magic touch Hopefully this would lead to many more projects like this one.
Aurelie Lemiere
Its an absolute treat to see your exquisite project! Just wonderful for the kiddies also.
Marlene Hofmeyr
What a stunning project in terms of innovation, design and sheer brilliance. Hats off to the whole team!
Mimi Ho Eddi
May I say thank you once again for always putting a smile in my heart every time I do that drive?
Susan Fern Kievits
Love it - makes the drive such a pleasure!
Ana Stallbom
Fantastic project. An even more beautiful drive every day.
Sharon Morton-Craig
Look for the designs every time I drive home. Fabulous project.
Fi Nichol
00:00
--
Short Films
South Africa
News
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
Public art is a risky business in Cape Town, considering the defacement of Michael Elion's Ray Ban Mandela sculpture on the Sea Point promenade last year, and the Cecil John Rhodes statue at UCT more recently.
