Cairn features works by Josly Liebenberg, Lelani Nicolaisen and Geneve Potgieter in a group exhibition that reflects on our relationship with the natural world and the choices we make within it. Taking its title from the stone markers built along hiking trails, the exhibition uses the cairn as a symbol of shared responsibility, suggesting that even small individual actions can help guide those who follow.
Working across a range of contemporary media, the three artists respond to themes of environmental stewardship, ecological fragility and human connection. Liebenberg examines the delicate balance of ecosystems through works inspired by species under threat, while Nicolaisen considers landscapes marked by environmental change and the ways personal experiences of loss can mirror the wider challenges facing the natural world. Potgieter’s contribution reflects on responsibility, asking how the everyday decisions we make shape both our environment and the legacy we leave behind.
Rather than offering easy answers, Cairn encourages visitors to consider how individual actions accumulate over time, much like stones added one by one to a trail marker. Together, the works create a thoughtful exhibition that explores conservation, resilience and our place within the landscape, reminding us that meaningful change often begins with small, deliberate acts.
Artists’ Walkabout: Saturday 8 August, 11 am
Each artist approaches the exhibition from a distinct perspective. Josly Liebenberg focuses on biodiversity loss through delicate studies of bees and the fragile ecosystems they support. Lelani Nicolaisen uses painting, installation and natural materials to reflect on the connections between personal grief, memory and changing landscapes, while Geneve Potgieter examines environmental responsibility through restrained compositions that consider what we choose to protect, preserve and hold back. Together, their practices offer different ways of thinking about care, stewardship and our shared relationship with the natural world.
