Self-portrait - seeing oneself

I drew a portrait of myself to depict the future and the past. One side shows the past of grieving and allowing myself to feel as I still feel connected to the memories I have shared with my late best friend and grandmother. Hence, the Yellow bright Halo on the hair symbolizes guardian Angels.

The comb and the small figure plaiting my hair are my grandmother. She used to have a specific comb she used to do my hair. Somehow, changing my hairstyles, embracing the rich mixed African hair, and wearing protective styles makes me feel closer to her.

The vanishing figure on my shoulder is my late best friend, who suffered from depression. I have her on my shoulder because she used to be my shoulder to cry on; even when it gets difficult, I remind myself that she is always there, and I am living for the both of us now.

Half the face is more realistic and clearer because when you look into the future and see your plans become this fitted puzzle, it gets brighter, giving you space to grow, evolve and be your own.

Paintbrush and the book symbolise my journey from studying a different cause to accepting that being an artist is my passion and calling. Even if it may be difficult for my parents to understand, having them now support me and accepting it gives me more hope into having both the academics and the talent.

Art became my pillar of strength, allowing me to feel and giving me a voice to express myself, even when words wouldn't make sense. The vision it gave me and the opportunities define that if you start loving yourself and choosing yourself, being chosen proves that you are on the right path.

Medium: Acrylic paint and Pastels on paper

Homage to the Departed – working with the Museum collections

“The Cycle of Life”

I have selected a few objects from the museum to create the piece "The Cycle of Life". The grave with a skeleton next to a tree represents where there is death; there is a rebirth of something. The chandeliers from the art studio represent light from darkness; the antelope is a metamorphic creature with multiple shows and a vanishing human face to represent the in-between, and The Black Eagle as horns on the Antilope represents death. Having the Balance or Separation between the living and non-living. I have used the Eagle and made it black to depict death; it is on the head of the antelope and looks hornlike. From the Environment Zone.

At the McGregor Museum, I chose the antelope, which is made as a metamorphic creature with a fading human face symbolizing the in-between life, with various antelope figures and shadows. The chandelier from the art studio brings light into darkness; the graveyard has a skull next to the tree to show that death often brings some sort of rebirth.

This has been the most challenging piece I have ever done because it is different from what I usually draw, but the discomfort helped me grow and become more patient. Everything lost can be found, and there are greater things in life cycles, as there can be light from the darkest encounter.

Shadows of the Memory - monochrome past at Duggan Cronin Gallery

“The spirit lives among us”

Artwork made of post-impressionism, cubism, figurative art, and abstraction was inspired by the Beyond the Body exhibition. I believe that the spirit is more than flesh, meaning even when one is deceased, their spirits still roam and live amongst us.

The artwork shows both the in-between living and 'unliving', depicting death/afterlife using the human skeleton and a lifelike human eye and flesh. The chest is the skeleton anatomy, with the heart on the right, which isn't the normal human structure. I used shades of grey to show death and other natural colours to represent life. The cubes in the artwork symbolize the existence of life in a dimensional or imaginary world, where a silver lining blurs the boundaries between life and death.

The artwork also conveys the importance of respecting the deceased, as they continue to live among us, serving as our guardian angels.

Medium: paste, charcoal, and acrylic paint on Fabriano paper.

Tracing the Past - Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre

This piece is inspired by the Rock Art Collection.

The word San is from the khoikhoi language which refers to forgers those who pick things from the ground. Two thousand years ago, herders and farmers with pottery-making and metalworking technologies appeared in South Africa. Aboriginal hunter-gatherers responded in varied and complex ways, depending on how the new lifestyles affected them.

The Khoi were led by Kaang, in a place wherever people and animals lived together peacefully and understood each other. It was always light even though there wasn't any Sun during this time of bliss. Kaang began to plan the wonders he would put in the world above . The San Used animals for different reasons especially with their trance /healing dance,and animals were a big part of them.

Medium: Pastels on tegneblok sketch pad

Reflections on the project (May 2024)

I had the opportunity to collaborate with Oxford University, Sol Plaatje University and the McGregor Museum in Kimberley. Getting selected was one of the most changing artistic moments because I learned to do more research outside my comfort zone regarding human remains, autopsies and the different cultural beliefs and backgrounds of all the other students.

This collaboration has helped me gain more confidence as an individual, learn teamwork, meet new people, and go to places like the Rock Art Center, Sol Plaatje University, exhibitions at the William Humphreys Art Gallery, Duggan Art Gallery and the McGregor Museum. With all the visitations, we learned about each institution and its historical background. I have become more passionate, and the programme has helped me gain more courage to study further; through the difficulties of learning new mediums and techniques, I could still pull through with our mentors' encouragement. We have now gained access to exhibit at the McGregor Museum in all future endeavours and received retrocognition on these big platforms like the media, museums, Oxford University and even the Turkish Ambassador.

I am grateful for the opportunity, the platform, and the confidence the program has given me to grow and develop; it has also opened more opportunities for us, and I am looking forward to more projects and creating more work and new memories.