I was surprised by this series. It was inspired by the Karoo, a semi-desert region in South Africa, but it led me somewhere unexpected. 

Drawn to textures, I initially began working with oil sticks and acrylic paint, intending to explore their tactile qualities. Yet, as I let the materials guide me, the work evolved beyond surface textures. What emerged instead was something deeper; an attempt to capture the spirit of the Karoo itself. 

For some time now, I've been fascinated by the idea of places that hold stories; landscapes marked by traces of the past, waiting to be uncovered. My process has become almost archaeological: adding and removing, layering and scraping back, searching for what lies beneath. As I work, I often think of my ancestors, the paths they walked and how their lives and stories slowly fade, covered over by new ones... our own. 

This series reflect both the soul of the Karoo and my ongoing exploration of marks that endure. They are remnants of the past and beginnings of the future; fragments of stories, still unfolding.