FIRST THURSDAY SHOWCASES THE CORONA SOLARGRAPH SERIES, WHERE THE SUN BECOMES THE ARTIST
Innovative creative project transforms Corona cans into pinhole cameras and asks the question – what is your billboard looking at every single day. (The answer is beautiful.)
Cape Town, 04 September 2026 – Cape Town’s creative community gathered at CHIMI during First Thursday to experience the Corona Solargraph Series, an exhibition that reminds you that natural beauty is always there, if you just take the time to appreciate it. Rather than relying on traditional photographic techniques, the artworks were created over one to two weeks by sunlight, time and nature using Corona cans transformed into functioning pinhole cameras.
The exhibition marked the culmination of the Solargraph Series, a creative project that handed authorship to nature. Installed across some of Cape Town and Johannesburg’s most recognisable locations, including Fourways, Fairy Glen Nature Reserve, Camps Bay, Green Point, Table Mountain and Chapman’s Peak, each camera quietly captured the magic in the movement of the sun, creating one-of-a-kind images, evidencing Corona’s belief that “Beautiful things happen when you let the sun in.”
The challenge to the creators was considering place above all else. To create a great Solargraph you need to face your camera north and creatively consider your foreground under the arcs of the sun. You have one chance only. Set it and step away – after that it’s up to nature.
Fari Sanyika, Travel Creator with Corona South Africa, said: “In a world where anyone can generate an image in seconds, this project forced us to create something that couldn’t be rushed. That’s something people have lost touch with and it’s wonderful to get a little retro. Getting outside to carefully consider what you’re shooting is really the spirit of Living is calling.”
The same thinking extended to one of advertising’s oldest formats. Corona transformed a hero billboard in Fourways, Johannesburg, into a functioning pinhole camera, allowing it to capture what it sees every single day. For 14 days it followed the passage of the sun to create a single solargraph. While capturing the image, Corona teased passers-by, telling them what they were capturing.
The billboard became part of the creative process itself as it didn’t just tell the story, it helped create it.
In a collaboration of ingenuity and technical craft, creative agencies, Boundless and Sunshine Gun, collaborated to turn Corona cans into art and the sun into the artist.
Roanna Williams, Co-Chief Creative Officer at Boundless, said: “When an idea arrives that is just the perfect expression of a brand you have to jump on it. The pinhole camera is photography’s oldest tech, and it operates in a way that it and Corona share – getting outside and celebrating the beauty of nature. Getting that convergence is rare and well worth making some magic out of.”
At its heart, the Solargraph Series brings Corona’s Living Is Calling philosophy to life: the beauty has always been there, we just don’t usually stand still long enough to see it.
After all, beautiful things happen when you let the sun in.
ENDS
About Corona Global:
The world’s most valuable beer brand (*Brand Finance report 2025), Corona, an AB InBev global brand, is the iconic beer brand that is synonymous with paradise with a presence in 180 countries. Recognized as the world’s most valuable beer brand in Kantar’s BrandZ global 2024 rankings, Corona invites the world outside, beckoning you to reconnect with your essential nature and embrace the simple pleasures of life. But it’s not just about the beer – it’s about the ritual. The ritual of adding a slice of lime to your Corona, an experience that elevates the moment. Corona isn’t just a beverage; it’s nature in a bottle. And we strive to help protect nature and have become the first global beverage brand with a net-zero plastic footprint. This builds on our longstanding ambition to help protect the world’s oceans and beaches from plastic pollution. Every sip of Corona is a celebration of nature and the beauty of the world around us.
About South African Breweries:
The South African Breweries (SAB) has reimagined what a beer company can be and has anchored this in a powerful brand purpose – We Dream Big to Create a Future With More Cheers. At SAB it’s always about more than the beer. We are driven by our passion to demonstrate the unique power of beer to propel South Africa forward. Since our inception over a century ago, SAB has grown to become South Africa’s largest brewer, a powerful economic contributor, a leader in sustainability, and a champion of responsible consumption. SAB is one of South Africa’s admired companies and corporate brands. The company operates 7 breweries and 42 depots in South Africa, a total workforce of approximately 5 000, and supports a beer economy ‘from seed to sip’ of over 250 000 jobs. Its portfolio of beer brands meets the needs of a wide range of consumers and includes leading brands in beer and beyond such as Castle Lager, Carling Black Label, Corona, Brutal Fruit, and Flying Fish.
We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Beer is the drink for moderation, and for over a century, SAB has championed responsible drinking. We are committed to providing our consumers with Balanced Choices to enjoy on any occasion. We also invest in marketing that aims to reinforce positive behaviours, and we work with communities, customers, and partners to promote responsible consumption through evidence-based initiatives.
Photographer: Tim Gerges
Processing and development: Dennis Da Silva
Corona Creators who were a part of the Solargraph Series Exhibition
- Mike Eloff
- Farirai Sanyika
- Danel Wentzel
- Neo Mokuene
- Maurice Koekemoer
- Justinah Rampa
- Ruan Pretorius
- Tebogo Kgethe
- Wade Schouw
- Daniel Tam
- Bridgette Kgosana
- Tayla May
