‘Lion’s Head, Guardian of the bowl’

This artwork, titled “Lion’s Head, Guardian of the bowl,” is a fibre art piece by South African artist Adele Helfrich. It is a contemporary textile landscape that uses a combination of tactile materials and modern sewing techniques to capture the essence of Cape Town’s natural beauty.
The artist employs freehand machine embroidery (also known as free-motion embroidery), where the sewing machine is used like a pen to “draw” intricate details and textures directly onto the fabric. It is crafted using upcycled fabric scraps, layering different textures and colours of repurposed fabric to create a collage-like effect.
The piece features the iconic Lion’s Head mountain in the background, rendered in muted, earthy tones. The foreground is dominated by vibrant yellow pincushion proteas (Leucospermum), a signature flower of the local fynbos biome.
The style is abstract yet representational, focusing on the depth and character provided by heavy stitching and raw, frayed fabric edges rather than precise realism.
The artwork is presented in a light wood frame, which complements the organic, nature-inspired theme of the ‘A happy place’