Artist Bio: Lwandiso Botozo
Lwandiso Botozo, a multifaceted artist born in Cofimvaba in rural Eastern Cape, navigates the intersections of identity, history, and storytelling through his dynamic artistic practice. Raised between Stellenbosch and Khayelitsha, and later spending five years in Franschhoek at Bridgehouse boarding school, Botozo’s journey is shaped by varied experiences and influences.
Artwork: “Threads of Displacement”
Lwandiso Botozo’s artwork explores the social and community structural erosion resulting from migrants working in the mining industry. His piece focuses on the social impact of fathers working on mines, away from their families, revealing the collapse of community and family social structures under harsh economic and historical pressures.
The Artistic Journey of Debbi Morkel
Born and raised in Cape Town, Debbi Morkel’s love for art developed from an early age. Like many artists, her passion began with a childlike fascination for drawing and painting, which persisted into adulthood. In 2008, Morkel made a bold decision to relocate to the remote Karoo town of Fraserburg, driven by a desire to fully immerse herself in her creative pursuits.
Artwork: “Red Rocks & Yellow Sand”
In the remote and arid expanses of the Karoo, where the landscape is dotted with rugged hills and sparse vegetation, lies the small town of Fraserburg. It was there that a chance encounter between the MINROM CEO Oscar van Antwerpen and two young girls walking alone on a desolate road marked the inception of both the “Be The Good” non-governmental organisation and the Minrom Art Initiative. Oscar was deeply moved by the dire circumstances of the girls and the challenges faced by the town’s youths.
