:: Melkhoutfontein, Stilbaai, Western Cape, South Africa::
:: February & March 2016 - March & April 2017 - February & March 2018 ::
:: 2015 - 45cm x 35cm - Acrylics, Inks & Markers on Canvas Board ::
This sketch design was the first to be completed and quickly became a symbolic and emblematic image for the project. It is inspired by the rock art at Ezeljagdspoort and other sites in the Western Cape depicting half-human, half-swift dancers, communicating with a Bushman and Strandloper Khoi reality of trance dance. Ancient people of Southern Africa believed themselves transformed into swifts and other birds and in their visions they flew up into a heavenly world to work their magic. I wanted to set an intention for our project, that we are helping the people of Melkhoutfontein change their lives. Just as their ancestors envisioned turning into swifts and taking flight, so with our project, we are helping them achieve that flight into a better way of life. See the three completed murals that sprang from this design at Warren & Surita's house, Emily's house and Marthins & Regina's house.
Below is an earlier version of this design...
The Swift People at Ezeljagdspoort, March 2016
