Smile of Africa

Inspired by: Smile of Africa, Rocklands, South Africa

What fascinates me about Smile is the texture of the rock. The dark streaks resemble the markings of an animal's skin, while the warm oranges and ochres feel almost like natural brushstrokes across the sandstone. Rather than describing the climb itself, the artwork focuses on those patterns, colours and rhythms that give the boulder its unmistakable character.

Smile is a boulder problem located in Rocklands, South Africa. First climbed by Giuliano Cameroni in 2018, it was proposed at 8C (V15), becoming one of the area's most iconic hard boulder problems.