Awuthi ngikhiphe Leskhokho ngizo pheka olunye...

As an over all body of work, the pervading focus is on feelings of nostalgia and the process of catharsis. I am interested in everyday life and where it is headed, but also in how the past inextricably weaves itself into the present. The memory and influence of the past, and the reality of the present often pose deep psychological challenges that I express through the work. The challenges come from the difficulty of being able to accept the past and acknowledge the present, particularly the chasm that can exist between those two realities. This gap is filled with things that we as young South Africans lacked, wished for and often imagined could have positively contributed to our young lives. This sense of loss, however, can contribute to vulnerability, honesty, grit and accountability if we are willing to recognize and build on both our hurt and our joy. The understanding of how we are responsible for the space we hold on earth regardless of our circumstances enables us to preserve and to be reminded that we have the power to make better choices everyday.

A constant inspiration to me comes from witnessing the resilience that people demonstrate in their daily lives, despite their circumstances. My process involves observing and documenting these moments through photography. I draw inspiration from the emotions I experience when the lens captures a second in time. I use the photographs as my inspiration. They vary from old to new photographs, which I take myself, come from family albums or have been given to me by friends and associates. Each photo evokes a story for me, and I use them individually or collectively to recreate and recompose a narrative. I focus mainly on the rural and township life in which I grew up. My experience of these perspectives and realities are important to me when recreating the artwork through painting, drawing or printmaking mediums. These recreated moments are personal, yet universal in that we are all connected and have dreams and desires that are sometimes never met. I am continually challenged to make empowering choices in my life as opposed to remaining paralyzed by an unwillingness to accept past and the present. It is this space of vulnerability and loss that I locate my truest work.