I see, I see

A tribute to the endangered Eagle Owl and my Daughter

75 x 75 x 14 cm | Aluminium, Cotton & ink | 2020 | Edition of 33

Many moons ago, my young family and I moved to an old house in the lush Blackdown Nature Reserve in the United Kingdom. Late every night, the owls would communicate with each other in a language that only they understood. My young daughter, who had only ever known London's hustle and bustle, was deeply moved by their calls.

As fate would have it, when I was a child, I spent a lot of time on the farm Sabi Sabi (South Afric), and I was taught the art of the owl whistle using my hands by the legendary tracker, Kazamula. And so, I lovingly passed this enchanting skill (which I had never really mastered) down to my daughter. Before long, she could flawlessly mimic the calls of these beautiful creatures and soon became a part of their nightly chorus.

This precious memory touches the depths of my soul, and I am reminded of the moment my ten-year-old looked up at me with eyes full of pride and said, "Dad...look, I can speak to the owls now!” And indeed she could, weaving her enchanted whistle into the night sky… the owls answered her.

Birds of prey have become increasingly threatened in recent years. Human activities, including illegal hunting and poaching, habitat destruction due to commercial development, and climate change are the primary causes of their endangerment. As apex predators in their respective biomes and ecosystems, the removal of these birds can cause significant disruption to the ecological balance they help to maintain. It is therefore essential that human activities that threaten their survival cease if we are to protect these majestic creatures for future generations. This artwork seeks to encapsulate human inability to understand the complex relationship that these majestic creatures have with our world, with each other and with us.