Sacred Art 3.0

In 2015 I visited Piazza del Popolo, one of the most famous and significant squares in Rome. At the heart of the city, this square has a long history and is an important point of reference for residents and tourists alike.

Its ancient roots date back to Roman times when it was an obligatory passage point for those entering the city from the northern side. The square as we see it today is the result of an urban intervention in 1550 which has been modified over the centuries.

Piazza del Popolo has always been a meeting place and a point of socialization.  It is surrounded by cafes, shops and restaurants and is an important hub for those who move around the centre of Rome.

Located in the square is the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto, a Baroque church which is one of two churches that stand on opposite sides of the square. It is called “Church of the Artists”. Its proximity to this important square which is a centre for art and culture, led to it being frequented by personalities from the art world over the centuries. It continues to be a meeting place for artists today

Looking back at my photos from 2015, I discovered a video I took of people walking across the square with the Church of the Artists in the background.  Little did I know then, that ten years later the figures in my iPhone artworks would “walk” across this square inviting visitors to the square to join them!

I am thrilled to announce my participation in the upcoming “Sacred Art 3.0” exhibition, set to take place at Rome’s historic Piazza del Popolo from19 February 2025 to 23 February 2025 between 7 PM and 11 PM. Celebrating the “Jubilee 2025”, this innovative event will inaugurate the “Jubilee of Artists” and transform the square into an open-air gallery, projecting digital artworks directly onto its pavements, thereby allowing visitors to engage with the pieces in a dynamic and immersive manner.

“Sacred Art 3.0”, under the patronage of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesano, has invited international artists to reinterpret traditional sacred themes through contemporary digital media. The selected artworks will be displayed in a continuous loop, accompanied by ambient music, creating a reflective and interactive atmosphere. The works will be projected from the Basilica onto the square. Attendees are encouraged to walk over the projections, becoming integral components of the art experience. The location for this event, and all the surrounding elements, make this space so special for such a project.

This project has been conceived by Paolo Ferigo and Stefano Favaretto who also acts as curator.  I have had the honour and pleasure to meet and collaborate with Stefano on various projects in the Spatial metaverse.

Diversity

As an iPhone artist, my creative process involves capturing fleeting moments through focused observation and deep listening to my surroundings. This practice allows me to perceive and convey the subtle energies and vibrations present in everyday life. Participating in this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to present my work in a format that encourages public interaction, aligning with my belief in art as a shared, communal experience. For this prestigious exhibition, my artworks have been animated to take my concept of stillness in movement into yet another dimension.

I am honored and humbled to contribute to this event, which seeks to make sacred art accessible and engaging to a broad audience. If you’re in Rome during these dates, I invite you to visit Piazza del Popolo to experience this fusion of tradition and technology firsthand. I will also share updates on my social media to share this immersive artistic journey with you.

Imithandazo and Raining Madiba

The opening of the My African Dream Events space this week in Spatial was a huge success.

I was honoured to exhibit my African collection "Imithandazo" alongside the calligraphy collection "Elegant Strokes of Japan" by Fumio Kojima from Kyoto. Once again the Bridging Worlds concept was on display, as were the bonds and connections created with others in the metaverse.

These exhibitions will remain there for some time and you are invited to visit and view them.

At the opening I was asked to speak about my collection. I shared how the collection was inspired by the song with the same name and focused on two themes of the song - collaboration and blessing.

To illustrate the special meaning of rain in Africa I spoke briefly about my artwork "Raining Madiba".

I would like to share the story in detail here:

The year is 2008, the month is August, and I am in South Africa, the land of my birth. It is a very chilly morning in the Cape as we set out for Groot Drakenstein prison, formally known as Victor Verster. It is so chilly in fact, that we make sure we have extra layers of clothing under our smart outfits. 

My husband and I are privileged to be invited to the unveiling of a 3,2 metre statue by the sculptor Jean Doyle.  This is no ordinary sculpture, for it commemorates a significant event in 1990, and a historic moment in Nelson Mandela’s walk to freedom.  

The bronze statue marks the spot outside the prison where Nelson Mandela took his first steps as a free man after twenty seven years. 

We drive from Cape Town to the Cape Winelands. As we approach the prison after an hour long drive, we go through at least three security checks, confirming for us that Madiba will indeed be present at the unveiling. He is! 

We are welcomed by Tokyo Sexwale, who commissioned the sculpture, into a huge marquee, erected especially for the event. We mingle with the other guests and are delighted when we are introduced to Ahmed Kathrada and Eddie Daniels, both of whom were on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela. We discover that it is Ahmed’s 79th birthday today and that Eddie is 80 years old, despite the fact that he looks as if he is in his late 60’s!

“Tell them about the day you stole the newspaper from Brother September when he was praying”, says Ahmed to Eddie, who replies that “It was a spur of the moment thing!”  We laugh together as this tale and others are shared.

Eddie tells us that they are healthy now in their old age because when they were young they did physcial labour, ate no fatty foods and had discipline! Realizing what he is referring to, we all burst out laughing again. 

The time for the unveiling arrives and we move outside. The wind is blowing and it is raining. My small umbrella keeps blowing inside out. Next to us stand the Brand family.  Mr Brand was Nelson Mandela’s prison warden. I look at him and am overwhelmed as I am confronted head on with the overwhelming power of forgiveness and reconciliation. 

To our right is a special tent that has been set up for Madiba and his family. 

Speeches are made and then the moment arrives. As the statue is unveiled, the skies open further and there is the most incredible downpour in that instant!  Perhaps I should not be surprised but I am. Such a downpour is considered a blessing in Africa. I am witnessing a special moment.  Not only those of us present, but all of nature, is applauding and approving. 

I decide that the rain will not deter me.  I cannot go home without at least one photo of Madiba.  I make my way as close as possible to the open-sided tent. A lady next to me shares her huge black umbrella with me as I hold up my camera and shakingly click. 

Later, my sms to my children reads, “Drenched but happy. Saw him. Love Mom”

In Abu Dhabi five years later I attended the memorial service for Nelson Mandela, who passed away on 5 December 2013. 

After the service, my dear friend Bahareh Amidi, who recited at the memorial, encouraged me to create an artwork as a tribute to Madiba. I got out my photos taken at the unveiling, picked up my iphone, and allowed my fingers to create a piece.

The resulting artwork “Raining Madiba” depicts Nelson Mandela becoming a raindrop which blesses the entire world.

Soon after that I was honored to have the artwork up on TV screens at a special event in Dubai.  South Africans from all over the region gathered together with friends at the Habtoor Grand Resort, to watch a live broadcast of of Nelson Mandela’s funeral in Qunu, his rural home village in the Eastern Cape Province. Each guest also received a printed copy of the artwork.

Phebus Georgiades, secretary general of the South African Business Council in the UAE made this sharing possible.  Mr Georgiades organized the memorial event in coordination with the South African consul-general. 

I was deeply encouraged by all who shared with me what they saw in the artwork.

May “Raining Madiba” continue to foster reconciliation and love amongst us all. 

(A Japanese translation of this post can be found here) 

Whispers of White

Inspired by the 1937 film “Lost Horizon”, the epic adventure “Journey to Shangri-La” can be found in the Spatial metaverse - an immersive, online space that can be experienced via laptop, tablet, mobile or VR headset, and in which users represented by avatars interact.

After watching a short film in a movie theatre, visitors to "Journey to Shangri-La" jump into snowy mountains only to discover that their plane has crashed. One now has to find one’s way to safety and serenity in the magical valley of Shangri-La, high in the Himalayas. Here people live in perfect harmony with nature and no one grows old. Via the lamasery of Shangri-La, one discovers how to find exclusive avatars, is directed to a magic boat ride and is also invited to explore the massive mountain terrain with breathtaking views. 

I am very excited to have been invited by Dave Fox, the builder of “Journey to Shangri-La”, to have a solo exhibition in a gallery in this space.

My exhibition ”Whispers of White” is an immersive exploration into the tranquil and ethereal world crafted through the lens of iPhone artistry. As a result of multi-sensory perception, this collection captures the unseen energies and unspoken moments in serene white hues.

”Whispers of White” invites the viewer to delve into a symphony of subtle shades, where every piece echoes calmness and purity. On this unique journey, each artwork whispers its own tale in white, and invites one to experience art beyond sight. 

It is my wish that like a prism separates white light into different colors, the spirit of each viewer may reveal hidden depths within these artworks.

You are invited to visit Journey to Shangri-La and encounter my exhibition. 

Whispers of White: 1 December 2024 - 31 December 2024