The Lineage series draws inspiration from Maya Angelou’s words, “I stand as one, but I come as ten thousand,” reflecting the essence of my practice; exploring the human experience through themes of healing, transformation, and interconnectedness. This body of work serves as a deeply personal and collective tribute to my ancestors, acknowledging their enduring presence in my life and work. They walk with me in every decision, every moment of progress, and every success.

Through this series, I honor their sacrifices, celebrate their resilience, and recognize the paths they forged that allow me to exist and create. Central to Lineage is the act of healing. This process acknowledges the generational traumas inherited through lineage. Wounds that manifest as toxic patterns, harmful behaviors, or even physical illnesses. By addressing and transforming these inherited burdens, I aim to break cycles of pain, replacing them with pathways of renewal, growth, and liberation. For me, healing is not an individual act but one that echoes across generations, both backward and forward. Each step I take to heal myself contributes to healing my ancestors and creating brighter, unburdened futures for the generations that follow.

This particular presentation of works, examines the interconnectedness of the living and the ancestral. I reflect on the parallel worlds we inhabit and the ways in which we carry each other’s hopes, dreams, and pain. My ancestors are not distant figures but active participants in my life. Materiality is an essential part of this dialogue. I intentionally use materials that symbolize contrasts: strength and fragility, endurance and transformation. Steel wool, copper wire, and organic elements among the materials that allow me to explore the tensions within these relationships. These materials embody resilience while remaining vulnerable, reflecting the balance that defines human experience and the generational exchanges within my lineage. Sculptural forms become metaphors for survival, growth, and the cycles of destruction and renewal.

Written by Oratile  Mosimanekgosi