The national Epic of Everlasting treasure hunt will be launched in Bloemfontein on Friday 8 July 2011. This is the fifth in a series of nine treasure hunts (the first four were held in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Pietermartizburg and Kimberley) that from part of KWV’s travelling Cecil Skotnes art exhibition.

A treasure in the form of a decorated golden wine barrel has been hidden in Bloemfontein at a location that can be found by solving the riddle published on the website www.epicofeverlasting.co.za on 8 July. The riddle relates to the story of the Epic of Gilgamesh (one of the earliest stories of mankind, and also the centrepiece of KWV’s Cecil Skotnes exhibition). The original story, which features Gilgamesh on his quest for immortality, has been conceptualised into 9 chapters – mirrored by the nine national
locations for the treasure hunt.

In each of the nine locations, the finalist will not only be invited, flown out and hosted at the Laborie wine farm in Paarl for a formal dinner in the beautiful manor house, but will also stand a chance to win the grand prize: a 15 litre bottle of Laborie wine that will be refilled for the rest of the winner’s lifetime.

To enter, treasure hunters who find the barrel, have to take a picture of him/herself with the treasure, and mail this to bloemfontein@epicoveverlasting.co.za to qualify.

The central piece of the KWV Cecil Skotnes travelling exhibition is a wood carved triptych which has been a feature in the Laborie Manor House since the 1970s. Called the “Origin of wine”, Skotnes has created his own interpretation of the Epic of Gilgamesh on the three panels. The work combines the epic quest for immortality with the history of wine and art in South Africa – a very unique context for the Epic of Everlasting treasure hunt!

The treasure hunt will close on 18 July and the Bloemfontein winner will be announced at the opening event the following evening at the Oliewenhuis Art Museum. More information and clues will be available on the Epic of Everlasting Facebook page and Twitter.

The treasure hunt will continue its tour from Bloemfontein to visit Johannesburg, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth, before the grand finale at Laborie farm in Paarl in December.