AGAC 2024 Top 25 Finalist - Alanie Botha-Austin - Mona Maak die Pap Dik Aan

I am an emerging visual artist whose passion for art ignited at a young age, providing me with endless joy and inspiration throughout my life. As a child, I was constantly doodling on anything and everything, and art quickly became my favourite subject in school.

In 2005, I earned my BA in Visual Communication from the Open Window School of Visual Communication and stepped into a Graphic Designer and Marketing career, collaborating with a diverse range of clients across various industries. While my design career limited my time for fine art, it also offered me a vital creative outlet.

In 2020, I rekindled my love for painting and drawing as a hobby. By early 2023, I recognized the need to set a goal to pursue art more seriously. I began entering several international online and local competitions, primarily to encourage myself to produce more work, and I was honoured to receive various awards.

I enjoy working with oils, watercolours, acrylics, and gouache, as well as drawing with pencils, pens, markers, and pastels. Exploring different mediums allows me to express myself in unique ways. My favourite subjects are animals and people, and I often blend impressionistic and realistic elements in my artwork, paying close attention to texture and detail.

Art serves not only as a means of creative expression for me but also as a source of relaxation and mindfulness. I believe it is a powerful medium for conveying messages and emotions, and I am passionate about using my talent to inspire others.

As I like to say, “The more we dream, the better the chance of it becoming a reality.”

In my reimagined artwork of the iconic Mona Lisa, I have transported her to the stunning landscapes of South Africa, with the majestic Drakensberg mountains looming in the background. 

The original face and hands of Mona Lisa remain in monochrome, while the rest of the painting bursts with vibrant colours. I kept her original features in monochrome as a gesture of respect to her heritage and the original master artist Leonardo da Vinci.

Through this artwork, I seek to blend elements of Western art history with the rich cultural tapestry of South Africa, creating a harmonious fusion of traditions and symbols. The juxtaposition of the monochrome face with the vibrant colours and cultural references invites the viewer to reflect on themes of identity, heritage, and the interconnectedness of diverse cultures and different eras.

Mona is depicted wearing a traditional Voortrekker bonnet, a symbol of South African history, and a colourful kimono adorned with the warm hues of an African sunset. 

In her hands, she holds a wooden spoon known as a "paplepel”, in this instance, showcasing the rich culinary traditions and a symbol for making friends (the tannies making and exchanging their “paptert” recipes at the braai - in Afrikaans there is a saying that goes “sy maak die pap dik aan” for making friends). She also holds a dishcloth, embodying elements of domestic life and everyday routines, making her quite ordinary and not the “grand auntie” from Europe.

Additionally, she holds a beautiful protea flower, the national flower of South Africa.

This reimagined Mona Lisa serves as a celebration of the beauty and diversity of South Africa, paying homage to parts of its history, customs, and natural splendour. It is a visual ode to the fusion of past and present, inviting viewers to contemplate their own story.