Hakopike, the professional name of Johannesburg-born artist Amy-Leigh Braaf, is a South African painter, illustrator, and photographer with 8 years of professional experience. Specializing in vibrant acrylic paintings, ceramics and murals, Hakopike embarks on a deeply personal exploration of her mixed heritage, drawing from travels and ancestral ties. Born into the complexities of post-Apartheid South Africa, Braaf was confronted with labels from a young age. This experience ignited a profound interest in the oral histories and ancestry within her family, leading her to question the nature of history documented primarily through storytelling. Her practice considers themes of identity, memory, belonging, and cultural inheritance, weaving together personal narratives with broader social histories. Through bold colour, layered symbolism, and expressive mark-making, Hakopike creates works that invite viewers to reflect on the ways identity is constructed, remembered, and passed across generations. Her multidisciplinary approach allows each body of work to become both an intimate act of self-discovery and a conversation about shared histories and collective memory.