In Setswana: "Morwadia Letsatsi le Loapi le le Botala jwa Magodimo"
Almost all living creatures migrate in one way or the other – and all eventually learn to adapt in order to survive. As an African from Botswana living in Europe for the first time, I create mix-media textured art on canvas to process the emotions that come with multiple culture shock experiences.
The colour contrasts highlight my personal highs & lows as I navigate an entirely new culture whilst rediscovering a precious version of myself I had once lost, and the textures are inspired by the dry natural landscape surfaces, primaritly the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana.
This collection was made for anyone who, like myself, has left home behind and has had to rebuild in an entirely new place:
“SEASONS OF CHANGE” “Dipaka tsa Phetogo”
I started painting again to cope with home sickness. I poured my emotions into this piece every time I felt overwhelmed and somehow, a whole year – four different seasons – had passed since the day I started…
“FIRST IMPRESSIONS” “Maikutlo a Ntlha”
Oh, this painting brought back memories! My first trip abroad was to Germany. Naturally, the trip was very long, however, it was only after I saw how different the natural landscape was, did I finally realise just how FAR AWAY from home I had actually travelled. Germany was – and still is, so overwhelmingly green to me.
“TO BE SEEN, IS TO BE LOVED” “Go Bonwa, ke go Ratiwa”
There is something so odd about being the only person of a different race in a room with people who are determined to pretend otherwise. Somehow you feel very visible – almost exposed, and yet, still so invisible.
“FADING MEMORIES” “Dikgakologelo tse di Nyelelang”
It is hard leaving home, it is even harder to accept that the home we return to will be different from the one in our memories, the next time we see it. So we desperately hold on to our most precious of memories, in the hopes that these will shine bright during the difficult times.
“EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE” “Sengwe le Sengwe se na le Tlhwatlhwa”
Everything has a price – but it is not always money. Having to explain to family that the life I have abroad comes with sacrifices, was not an experience I was prepared for. Nor was I prepared for some loved ones to refuse to face that reality.
“FROZEN OUT” “Go Gatsediwa”
It is difficult to make friends as an adult – even more so with people from a whole different culture. So many misunderstandings happen, and in cultures where talking issues out is not common practice – we often find ourselves simply frozen out of communities we were trying to connect with.
“UNDER THE SAME SKY, BUT WORLDS APART” “Kafa Tlase ga Loapi lo lo Tshwanang, Mme Mafatshe a a Kgaoganeng”
There is a quite grief that comes with living abroad and coming home to people you know, and yet no longer ‘know’. Time has passed, and though we share a history and keep in touch, they no longer feel as familiar, as comfortable as they used to be – neither do we, to them. Then reality settles, we are finally under the same sky, yet worlds apart.
“YOU HAVE CHANGED” “O Fetogile”
This phrase has history of haunting those of us who have moved away from home. ‘Home’ chooses not to accept the version of us that has had to rebuild in a different place to survive. When we insist on being authentic, showing and sharing how we have been reshaped by our experiences abroad, we often get told in a disapproving tone: ‘you have changed’, ‘you are showing off’, ‘you have forgotten where you come from’, e.t.c.
“EPIPHANIES” “Diponagalo”
One is never really prepared for the clarity gained when one goes through an emergency – medical or otherwise – in a foreign land, especially for the first time. Suddenly you learn who is your friend, and who was simply just being friendly.
“SIGNS OF INTEGRATION” “Matshwao a go Kopana”
The weather was the biggest challenge after leaving home. It was was always so cold and the sun did not produce enough warmth on days it did shine. The day I found myself playing outside after it snowed, in – 15°c temperatures, I finally accepted that this sunshine and blue skies girl had finally started adapting – and dare I say it – has began to integrate.
“ARZBERG: UNDER THE WINTER VEIL” “Arzberg: Ka fa Tlase Lesire la Mariga”
My first ever experience with snow was in Arzberg, Germany. Beautiful & inviting, and yet so very fragile. It was also evidence that the temperatures had dropped to levels I had never felt before. And yet through the cold, I learnt this life lesson: people also have seasons, and sometimes staying through uncomfortable transformations results in us being able to love the entire person, not just a part – ‘one season’ – of who they are.
“CODE SWITCHING” “Go Fetola Khoutu”
It feels weird to switch between different versions of myself depending on where I am and who I am with. The silent heartache of having to accept that people around you can only accept parts of who we are, not our entire personality, is the kind of pain all immigrants can relate to.
