Art, nature and ophthalmology all intersect at the heart of the First Light Project, an innovative art initiative inspired by the idea of exhibiting artworks to people experiencing restored sight for the first time. Based in Modimolle, Limpopo, the project is hosted inside the walls of the Hope for the Blind (HFTB) eye hospital, where an exhibition space has been integrated into its clinic design, serving post-operative eye surgery patients as they experience the joy of restored sight right after their eye patches are removed.

It is curated by Johan Stegmann and Lawrence Lemaoana on behalf of the Hope for the Blind (HFTB), a non-profit eye hospital dedicated to addressing the challenge of preventable blindness in Limpopo. An estimated 10,000 people in the province are blind due to cataracts, requiring a relatively simple procedure to end their disability. The new HFTB building is a cutting-edge facility nestled among the trees of the Waterberg Bushveld with beautiful views of the surrounding trees incorporated into its architecture.

More than just an exhibition space, this initiative curates the first visual experience for patients as they emerge from the cataract surgery process, seeing art, color, and detail in a way they have not for years. It demonstrates art’s transformative potential to engage, inspire, and heal. With a commitment to both artistic exploration and community well-being, the First Light Project aims to wield art as a powerful tool for empowerment and connection.

Profits from the First Light Project, in addition to ring-fenced portions of every art sale, goes directly to subsidising the eye surgery costs of disadvantaged patients.