Back to the far away Karoo and the water theme with "A Karoo Sunday"
So here we are back again exploring the ever-present theme of the far away Karoo—and Karoo water. If you had the chance to read my previous post, "Over The Stream", you’ll remember how I touched on the vital role of water—or rather, the scarcity thereof—in the remote Karoo. It’s a theme that crops up from time to time in my paintings, as water shapes not only the land but also the lives of those who inhabit it.
In this piece, "A Karoo Sunday", the ever-familiar presence of a wind pump and reservoir alongside a humble farm worker cottage take this theme on. The wind pump, a quintessential feature of the Karoo landscape, stands as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for water in this arid land. It’s a symbol of resilience, as well as the resourcefulness that has kept communities alive and thriving despite the hardships of the region.
A Tranquil setting depicting a hard life
The scene in "A Karoo Sunday" depicts a tranquil farm worker homestead, where the remnants of human life are scattered throughout the landscape. Old artefacts like the rusted tractor in the veld, the weathered drum, and the old abandoned wheelbarrow in the foreground, suggest that even in this isolated corner of the world, people have lived, worked, and left their mark. These objects tell the story of hard work, history, and the perseverance that has defined this region, and this country for generations.
The smoke rising from the chimney of the house is no accident. I've put it in there intentionally, symbolising more than just the presence of life; it speaks to something deeper. It’s a sign of an indomitable spirit—a will to endure, even in the harshest of conditions. Many homes in the Karoo have been abandoned, left to crumble under the weight of time and neglect. But the smoke rising from this humble dwelling tells a different story. It’s a testament to those who remain. To the perseverance of people who continue to live and breathe life into this arid land.
The sad reality of urbanisation
Urbanization has become a significant issue in South Africa. Sadly—More and more people are leaving behind hearth and home in the more remote regions of our country in search of a better and more prosperous life in towns and cities. As a result, land and infra structure is slowly being deserted and left to lie fallow and crumble in rural areas, and with it, the stories of the people who once inhabited it. Our rural areas are being left behind and forgotten, and the rich history that they hold is slipping away, often unnoticed. As a result cities and urban areas are being placed under ever increasing stress as they wrestle with the conundrum of finding ways and means to manage influx and overcrowding.
Its not just about the landscape—its also about the indomitable spirit!
In "A Karoo Sunday", as I do in most of my paintings, I wanted to capture not just the physical landscape, but also the spirit of those who have lived here—and more especially, those who have persevered despite the odds. It’s a meditation on the push and pull between progress and tradition, between the city and the 'Platteland', and a reminder that even in the harshest of environments, human presence endures, leaving behind traces of life, history and stories that should never be forgotten.