Sponsored by Paarl winery, Painted Wolf Wines, the bar is set to merge the mastery of owners, Jeremy and Emma Borg – leaders in the respective fields of wine and photography – with the stylistic flair of Durban’s Michelle Markram and her team from MSquared (MSQ) Interior Design.

Named for the iconic wild dog, Painted Wolf is more than a mere vineyard supplying international locations with one of the country’s best wines. The Borg’s are ardent supporters of wildlife conservation with a particular focus on African wild dog.

Following several years spent abroad in the wine industries of London and California, Jeremy found himself in the African bush harnessing his culinary skills when he met his wife, Emma, a wildlife and vineyard photographer. Both committed to wildlife conservation, the couple vowed to work towards fundraising efforts throughout their marriage.

The focus on the African wild dog - scientific name ‘Lycaon Pictus’ which is translated to ‘Painted Dog’ - came after Jeremy read an article about the reintroduction of the species to KwaZulu-Natal game reserves more than a decade ago.

“Wild dogs have one of the most sophisticated social structure of any carnivorous terrestrial mammal,” he says. “It is an egalitarian system, the basis of which is helping the female to raise the puppies.”

This resonated with Jeremy who decided to establish the Painted Wolf Wine business plan on this socially supportive structure. Together, Jeremy and Emma have created wines with proceeds going towards the Environmental Wildlife Trust and Children in Wilderness.

His respect for the professionalism displayed by Decorex SA and acknowledgement of the incredible platform this provides the initiative prompted the couple to accept the offer of featuring at the Durban leg.

Aligning with this vision of conservation, the MSQ team is committed to transforming the bar into an organic space which celebrates a unity with environment and community.

“It is vital for the artist to examine the whole and understand the social responsibility we hold in the palm of our hands,” says Markram, explaining her vision. “Visual expression is so powerful which is why our motto is ‘make a soul impact on what matters most and get your message across with love’. By doing this, we give the public a valid platform to reflect and consider themselves as individuals, as well as the environment which sustains us.”

The ethos at MSQ is very in line with the 2017 ‘urban jungle’ trend which welcomes the natural world into the everyday living environment, creating much-needed sensory stimulation to counteract the constant interaction with electronics.

“Nature is a living heartbeat and key to our sustainability,” says Markram. “Through our artistry, which incorporates discarded raw material, we will bring this realisation to the fore. The result is an honest, refreshing and spiritually uplifting stage of natural beauty, gently interspersed with harmonious strokes of creative imagination. I can only hope that, in doing so, we will provide a new vision and different future for us all.”

This eco-driven energy will transform the Painted Wolf Wine Bar into an organic scene of verdant reprieve, crafting a soothing yet rejuvenating environment for visitors to this year’s Decorex Durban.

For the décor, lovingly rejected tree stumps will be carefully sculpted and positioned naturally so as to not overwhelm; creative re-imaginings of discarded waste with recycled wine bottles adorning the walls as well as the written word encapsulating the poetry of art, will all be set against the harmonious sound of water. And taking centre stage will be the imaginative vertical gardens, harmoniously fusing artist and nature.

“This will be a new vision of décor. We need to get back to our roots. Our imagination can truly be an interesting unfolding if we stand back and let the soul take over.”

Emanating from her artwork is MSQ’s soon-to-be established non-profit organisation, The African Green Revolution, which seeks to find a solution for the abundant waste material littering the continent.

“It is our mission to clean up the streets of South Africa by offering a solution to the mountains of municipal rubbish,” says Markram. “Stylish homes will be built from what we discard on a daily basis, such as plastic bottles. The African Green Revolution is why we chose to participate in Decorex Durban. It is central to our daily lives and my talent in interior design is merely the stepping stone we will use to facilitate this drive. We want to bring awareness to the plight of communities who have lost hope, as well as an environment which is under siege, asking for a new dawn.”

Contributing towards the wild dog conservation efforts, Markram will sculpt a life-size metallic wild dog which will be exhibited at the Painted Wolf Wine Bar. Proceeds from the sale of this magnificent piece will go directly towards the survival of these protected animals.

Visit the Painted Wolf Wine Bar and many other exciting features at KwaZulu-Natal’s premier décor, design and lifestyle exhibition portfolio, Decorex Durban - co-sponsored by Plascon and Caesarstone. Tickets are sold through Computicket and at the door.

For more information, visit www.decorex.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.