𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 by Hakopike

South African-based artist Hakopike was born and raised in Johannesburg as Amy-Leigh Braaf has been working as a painter, illustrator, and photographer for the last 8 years.

Being a South African woman she was labelled from the moment she was born and started exploring oral stories and ancestry in her family from a young age. This was the catalyst that caused her to question the validity of documenting history through story-telling primarily.

This led her to apply artist residency at Ketemu Project where she started her canvas pieces to depict these characters combining her knowledge of who they might have been and what their descendants are like now. Through symbolism, story-telling, and vibrant colours – this art series is aimed to bring light to those who didn’t have voices but are rich with stories that have never been told.

𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 became a channel of exploration and self-discovery of “Those who came…