NAMIBIA : THE GENESIS 2014

The Journal Entry: "Before the temples of stone, there were temples of sand. The journey begins here, in the oldest desert on Earth. In Namibia, the divine is not hidden in a shrine; it is exposed in the geology.

This chapter explores the 'Genesis' phase of the artist's life, confronting the silence of the Namib, the red skin of the Himba, and the spiritual trances of the San Bushmen. It is a study of survival in the void."

THE RED LINEAGE (HIMBA)

The Origin Story:

In the Kunene region, the Himba women coat their skin and hair in Otjize—a mixture of butterfat and red ochre stone. It is not just makeup; it is a connection to the earth and a protection from the sun. This piece documents Ishwar’s time in a settlement, representing the tribe’s belief that the red of the earth and the red of the blood are the same sacred substance."

The Specifications:

• Medium: Red Ochre (Otjize), Butterfat & Charcoal on Linen

• Location of Origin: Opuwo, Kunene Region

• Era: The Genesis (2014)

KAGGEN'S DANCE (THE TRANCE)

The Origin Story:

The San people (Bushmen) are the oldest inhabitants of Southern Africa. Their creator god often takes the form of a Mantis (Kaggen). Inspired by the ancient rock art of Twyfelfontein, this artwork explores the moment the shaman enters the spirit realm to heal the community. It touches on the very first concept of 'God' known to man."

The Specifications:

• Medium: Natural Rock Pigments, Charcoal & Sandstone Dust on Canvas

• Location of Origin: Twyfelfontein / Kalahari Edge

• Era: The Genesis (2014)

OXIDATION (SOSSUSVLEI)

The Origin Story:

The dunes of the Namib are red because they are rusting. Millions of years of oxidation have turned the sand into iron ore. This piece is a geological study of 'Hematite' (Iron Oxide). It captures the monumental silence of Big Daddy Dune, using actual sand to create a surface that burns with iron-red intensity. It is a meditation on the beauty of geological time.

The Specifications:

• Medium: Namib Red Sand (Iron Oxide) & Acrylic on Canvas

• Location of Origin: Sossusvlei, Namib-Naukluft

• Era: The Genesis (2014)

Archive #AF006: Otjize (The Himba Tribe Woman)

Archive #AF007: The Mantis Dream (San Mythology)

Archive #AF008: The Iron Ocean (Nambib Sand)

Archive #AF009: The Ghost Gazelle (Oryx)

SURVIVOR OF THE VOID (ORYX)

The Origin Story:

The Gemsbok (Oryx) is the spirit animal of the Namib. It stands perfectly still in temperatures that would kill other beasts, surviving without water for weeks. This artwork captures the stoicism of the animal. It represents the quality of 'Endurance', the ability to thrive where nothing else can grow.

The Specifications:

• Medium: Oil, Dry Brush & Bone Black on Linen

• Location of Origin: Damaraland

• Era: The Genesis (2014)

Archive #AF010: The Graveyard of the Giants

THE FOG BELT (SKELETON COAST)

The Origin Story:

Long before the ships ran aground, this coast was named for the bones of whales. The cold Benguela current washes the remains of these leviathans onto the burning sands, where the sun bleaches them into eternal monuments. This piece explores the concept of 'Organic Architecture.' It contrasts the softness of the sea fog with the hard, calcified permanence of the whale vertebrae. It is a tribute to the giants who find their final rest where the ocean meets the desert.

The Specifications:

• Medium: Oil, Cold Wax, Crushed Sea Shells & Bleached Bone Dust on Linen

• Location of Origin: Skeleton Coast (Torra Bay)

• Era: The Genesis (2014)

BOTSWANA : 2015

The Journal Entry: "Leaving the skeleton coast behind, the journey moved inland to the 'Jewel of the Kalahari.' Botswana is a paradox. It is a desert that drowns every year. Here, the water flows not into the ocean, but into the sands, creating the Okavango Delta a massive, breathing nervous system of life.

This chapter explores the tension between the thirst of the Kalahari and the flood of the Delta. It is a study of how life gathers around the source."

THE SILENT POLE (MOKORO)

The Origin Story:

The Banoka (River Bushmen) do not fight the current; they glide over it. Using the Mokoro, they navigate the hippo-filled channels with silent precision. This piece honors the 'Poler' the one who stands while others sit, the guardian of the channels who knows that to disturb the water is to invite death.

The Specifications:

• Medium: Acrylic, River Reeds, Papyrus Fiber & Water from the Delta on Canvas

• Location of Origin: Okavango Delta (Maun)

• Era: The Odyssey (2015)

PULA : THE BLESSING

The Origin Story:

In Botswana, the word for 'Rain' and the word for 'Money' are the same: Pula. It is the ultimate currency. There is no greater god here than the Rain Cloud. This artwork is a prayer for the storm. It captures the smell of wet earth (Petrichor) and the collective sigh of the land when the dry season finally breaks.

The Specifications:

• Medium: Oil, Silver Leaf, Rainwater & Charcoal on Linen

• Location of Origin: Central Kalahari Game Reserve

• Era: The Odyssey (2015)

THE KIMBERLITE CORE (JWANENG)

The Origin Story:

Botswana’s wealth lies hidden beneath the sand. It is the land of diamonds. But before the cut and polish, the diamond is just a stone in the mud. This piece explores the concept of 'Hidden Value.' It utilises dust from the mining regions to create a surface that looks dull from afar but sparkles brilliantly when you get close; a metaphor for the soul.

The Specifications:

• Medium: Mixed Media, Crushed Kimberlite Rock, Diamond Dust & Black Oil on Canvas

• Location of Origin: Jwaneng Region

• Era: The Odyssey (2015)

Archive #AF011: The River Walker (Banoka Tribe)

Archive #AF012: The Rain Maker (Pula)

Archive #AF013: The Hidden Light (Diamond)

Archive #AF014: The Grey Ghost (Elephant)

THE MATRIARCH (CHOBE)

The Origin Story:

Botswana is the kingdom of the Elephant. In Chobe, they are not just animals; they are architects who reshape the forest. This piece is not a portrait; it is a landscape of skin. It honours the Matriarch, the keeper of memory, whose skin bears the map of every drought and every river crossing.

The Specifications:

• Medium: Heavy Impasto, Grey Mud (Chobe River) & Varnish on Canvas

• Location of Origin: Chobe National Park

• Era: The Odyssey (2015)

Archive #AF015: The Lunar Surface (Makgadikgadi)

THE WHITE VOID (MAKGADIKGADI)

The Origin Story:

The Makgadikgadi Pans are the remains of a super-lake that dried up thousands of years ago. It is a place of disorientation, where the curve of the earth is visible. This artwork explores the 'Void.' Standing on the pan, there is no sound, no life, and no perspective. It is the closest experience to standing on the moon.

The Specifications:

• Medium: Mixed Media, Pan Salt, White Clay & Mirror Fragments on Canvas

• Location of Origin: Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

• Era: The Odyssey (2015)