Jan 11 2010
Today marks a first - this morning Sibonelo Chiliza flew up on the plane from Johannesburg to begin a stay with us as Tswalu Kalahari’s first ever Artist in Residence. We first discovered Sibo’s work at an exhibition of botanical art created by Strilli Oppenheimer in the library of her home. Sibo may well be the only black South African artist classically trained in capturing the essence of our flora. His art is breathtaking in its detail and realism; the plants seem to bloom on the page. So we asked him if he would like to come and work here in the Kalahari.
The definitive work on the wild flowers of the Northern Cape by Jill Adams was published over 30 years ago in 1976 so his vision will create a new record of key species. We have chosen the first two plants for him to study - Hoodia and Devil’s Claw. Hoodia, now a highly protected species, is a cactiform succulent which has received instant fame around the world as a “diet cure” as its flesh is a powerful appetite suppressant. A fact that the Bushmen knew first many thousands of years ago, using it to control hunger on extended hunts. High up on the mountains here at Tswalu, you can see extraordinary rock art by the San which may date from 380,000 years ago and so represent some of the oldest art on Earth. So it’s special to think that Sibo will create new art here in the same spot, inspired by the same plants they depended upon.
