Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode of Art in Focus, Tristanne Farrell is joined by three young contemporary South African artists: Mary Sibande, Sahlah Davids, and Leila Abrahams.
Together, they explore art as a vessel for identity, storytelling, and cultural memory. From Mary Sibande’s iconic alter ego Sophie and her exploration of generational narratives, to Sahlah Davids’ deeply textured works rooted in Cape Malay heritage, to Leila Abrahams’ sculptural pieces shaped by personal experiences of illness and healing — this conversation reveals how lived experience becomes artistic language.
The episode also unpacks materiality, colour symbolism, mentorship, global audiences, and the responsibility artists carry to preserve and evolve cultural identity.
In this episode of Art in Focus, Tristanne Farrell is joined by three young contemporary South African artists: Mary Sibande, Sahlah Davids, and Leila Abrahams.
Together, they explore art as a vessel for identity, storytelling, and cultural memory. From Mary Sibande’s iconic alter ego Sophie and her exploration of generational narratives, to Sahlah Davids’ deeply textured works rooted in Cape Malay heritage, to Leila Abrahams’ sculptural pieces shaped by personal experiences of illness and healing — this conversation reveals how lived experience becomes artistic language.
The episode also unpacks materiality, colour symbolism, mentorship, global audiences, and the responsibility artists carry to preserve and evolve cultural identity.
