Dromedaris, Donder en ander Dom Dinge

The ‘Dromedaris’ of the title makes reference to one of the three ships that arrived in the Cape in 1652 under the leadership of the Dutch explorer Jan van Riebeeck. This was one of several moments – or ‘dom dinge’ – in the history of South Africa that would lead to appropriation, repression and violence and it is with these themes that Botha was preoccupied at the time in which this work was completed.

The animal and human figures in the work reflect aspects of human and animal behaviour as well as the relationship between the two, always an important theme for Botha. 

Artwork courtesy of Johannesburg Art Gallery.