Calling the rain and its creatures: (giraffe)Hardground Copperplate etching, 2.2 x 1.2 m
This image depicts the story of the rain animal in Khoi-San folklaw. The Khoisan although where nomads, also used to stay in caves for long periods in time. They looked to the environment in supplying their needs. In winter the grass would dry up and the animals would move off. This posed a potential threat to their life style. The tribe would get together and clap, sing and celebrate as one during the "trance-DAnce" ritual. They would all dance round the fire or clap their hands sitting down. The shaman would enter trance and in the mist of the spirit realm, call the elusive rain animal. He would tie a string (filled with energy and muti) around the animals nose and lead it to the area of the land he needed it to rain. He would literally depict the landscape he knew and release the rain animal. Once back in his body the tribe would celebrate if successful. Then they would wait, a few days later it would rain. This would bring the animals to their valley again. I have depicted the rain animal as a giraffe, for me a breacher of realms, an archangel. He comes through the clouds and spirit realm breaching the boundaries of magic. Magic spills around him as he pours his sacred, life-giving rain onto the earth. Many symbols of potent magic are shown in the world. Looking below at the landscape, it is alive with detail.