Walls That Speak

In the City Bowl and surrounds, every wall has a voice, and every mural tells a story. Welcome to Cape Town's open-air gallery – raw, real and constantly evolving

- BY KATE WILSON

Welcome to Cape Town's coolest canvas – where the walls do talk, and they've got plenty to say. If you've ever strolled through Woodstock or Salt River and surrounds, chances are you've stopped in your tracks, tilted your head and thought: 'Wow, that's art?' Yep, it is – and it's everywhere. These neighbourhoods have become Cape Town's unofficial outdoor art museums, and their street art scene has a backstory as vibrant as the murals.

Let's rewind. Woodstock and Salt River weren't always the colourful, artsy hubs we know today. Once gritty, industrial pockets of the city, they were home to warehouses, factories and working-class families. But as the industries moved out and buildings emptied, something unexpected moved in: artists.

Drawn by affordable spaces and creative freedom, local and international artists began staking their claim. And when they ran out of gallery walls? They turned to the streets.

Street art here isn't just rebellious spray paint anymore – it's international. Thanks to events like the International Public Art Festival (IPAF), artists from around the globe flock to Cape Town each year to leave their mark. Salt River's buildings become giant canvases, showcasing massive, meaningful, mind-blowing murals.