Rain (2020)
Artist's Statement
The world is at a tipping point on the issue of climate change. South Africa is one of the country’s most at risk of global warming fallout.
South Africa has to interrogate its climate change policies just as urgently as Australia does. The global areas worst at risk are Southern Australia, South Africa, Central and South America and the Western US.
Experiencing the hottest years on record, unprecedented droughts, strong unseasonal winds and more intense wildfires have now become the norm.
South Africa experienced devastating fires in Knysna in 2017.
With dry seasons becoming longer more fires can be expected in fynbos vegetation areas. The Cape peninsula is also at particular risk, which is part of the only region in the world with fynbos- diverse vegetation, more than that of tropical rainforests.
Rain is more than ever a natural phenomenon to be nurtured and respected. Without it we will not have a healthy ecology. Without water we will die.
RAIN, RAIN, DO NOT LEAVE US AGAIN
OUR LAND IS SCORCHED AND PARCHED DRY
WATER RESTRICTIONS LOOM
OUR CROPS ARE AT RISK OF FAILING
AND PEOPLE AND ANIMALS ARE SUFFERING
THE FINE CLOUDY WET MIST,
THE DANK DROPS POURING DOWN MY CAR WINDSCREEN
THE SOOTHING SOUND AS IT LANDS ON THE GROUND
AND THE TREE FROGS SINGING
OH BLESSING
BUT RAIN, RAIN, DO NOT LEAVE US AGAIN.
When looking at the theme “Symbiosis and Coexistence”, it makes me think of the African word UBUNTU. UBUNTU means “I am because of who we all are”. It highlights the fact that we are all interdependent, living together, co-existing in this global world.
My installation RAIN comments on climate change. Rain has a symbiotic relationship to the earth, to nature, to plants, trees, animals and to all living creatures, including us human beings.
South Africa, along with other countries in Southern Africa, Southern Australia, Central and South America and the Western USA are all experiencing the hottest years on record, strong unseasonal winds and more intense wildfires have become the norm along with severe droughts and water shortages due to lack of rain.
Rain is a natural phenomenon to be nurtured and respected. Without it we will not have a healthy ecology, without water we will all die.
Read Peter Machen's review of Rain.
Watch my video of Rain.