When Hélène Truter bought Amulet in 2010 the outside of the building was painted a dull grey.
“I don’t do dull, so I twisted my landlord’s arm for permission to paint Amulet pink,” she said.
“That’s when the street’s transformation began. Once Amulet was done, we convinced the landlord to paint the rest of his building in bold colours.”
The pet shop next door was painted lime green, the locksmith on the corner a bright red, the laundromat around the corner turquoise. It began to resemble a street in Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap with many a tourist taking selfies in front of the colourful shops.
Since 2010 many businesses have come and gone, but throughout recessions, riots, fire and finally lockdown Amulet stood proudly in pink. Finally, the rejuvenation of High Street was completed, and Jeandré Marinier’s stunning mural of whales and proteas took pride of place.
Truter confesses that not only was she in awe of the transformation, but also a little envious. And she decided she wanted a unique mural for Amulet.
“I got to know Jeandré when my daughter started art classes in high school. They formed a close bond and the fact that Jana is today a graphic artist with her own business actually started with Jeandré.”
She had to stand in line because Jeandré was very busy.
“I think she quite liked the challenge of trying something completely different from the usual for Amulet. She took pictures of my printed velvet cloths and noted my love for circuses. And then of course there is also a streak of Marie Antoinette in me.”
It was not an easy assignment, but the final product is breathtaking. People can’t help wanting to pop in.
“I advise all business owners to hire Jeandré,” Truter said. “It’s actually incredible that one artist can transform our town like that. It feels like a fairy tale world.”
