NAMIBIA WORK

My work for 2010 has been inspired by ‘A journey into Namibia’, taken in May 2009. Namibia is a fascinating country – a land of variation. The vistas of huge sand dunes in the south, the Skeleton Coast, the rugged scenery of Damaraland offering rich vegetation, the bushy savannah with its rock paintings, Etosha National Park with its animals, and, of course, the people, all of which contribute to the intrigue, contrast and variety within this wonderful country.

The Himba tribal women, unique to Namibia, are proud and very beautiful. I have tried to capture this in my representation of them. It was difficult to choose which animals to make as there were so many that I found fascinating. But the technique I use eventually dictated the selection. The desert elephant had to be included, as it is a recognised symbol of Africa’s wildlife, and the cheetah holds a special place in my heart.  Amusing ground squirrels were everywhere, but the more intriguing meerkats,  found in most areas of Southern Africa, made better ‘models’, the lovable fur seals with their huge eyes, and the guinea fowl for their colour and character, are all represented.

The Namibian landscape, affected by strong sunlight, is an ever-changing pattern of strange and surreal images, being the inspiration for my panel pictures.