Artivist Natania Botha is a force to be reckoned with in the meeting place between art and environmental goodness. Her recent “The Last Correspondent” was presented to the United Nations and has a big message for global leaders!
Global (15 September 2023) — Earlier this week, South African artivist (artist and activist) Natania Botha did something important in the meeting place between art and environmental goodness—a space she has made a fantastic name for herself in.
Botha presented her opus, “The Last Correspondent” (a mosaic torso sculpture with a big story in each piece) to the esteemed halls of the United Nations in a handover during the Nelson Mandela Sustainable Development Goals Book launch at the Nelson Mandela Foundation. But this was not just a transfer of gorgeous mosaic art.
Botha’s recent opus (40 pieces in total) and spotlit torso sculpture are the reflection of the time she’s spent documenting the wonders and woes of our natural world; something she’s earned a fabulous reputation for, evident in her many recognitions from being one of the ‘100 South African Shinin Stars’ for Community Upliftment in 2020 to being part of the ‘200 Mail and Guardian Young South Africans’ list in the Environment category, 2021.
Her dedication to environmental preservation was also acknowledged in M&G’s Greening the Future awards in 2022; a culmination of the many hats of leadership the artivist has worn in non-profit spaces focused on conservation and green entrepreneurship, including being the Head of Membership for the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.
From her numerous green journeys and insights, she became inspired to create “The Last Correspondent”—works described as a luminous testament to her deepest aspirations and unwavering dedication.
Of the recent catalyst that inspired her work, Botha shares:
“In the latter half of 2022, I have dedicated a significant portion of my time to documenting the impacts of climate change and profiling the work of the United Nations Development Programme in South Africa, particularly their contributions to South Africa’s Climate Promise and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
“This journey took me across thousands of miles of road, including remote areas like the Richtersveld near the Namibian border. Throughout this journey, I have witnessed both the breathtaking wonders and devastating effects of climate change on my country, notably in the Northern Cape where iconic plant species like the quiver tree face potential threats due to shifting climate conditions.”
It was during these transformative experiences that the artivist drew her inspiration to create art that stands not just as something for the eyes to behold, but for leaders to consider at all costs.
For Botha, it is a plea to world leaders, urging them to heed the call for transformative change in climate action and the very urgent need for global sustainability.
“In my eyes, true sustainability can only be achieved by actively supporting and empowering the youth to innovate and create a world that aligns with our vision, transcending the boundaries set by international agreements like the Paris Agreement.
“I firmly believe that unlocking our collective imagination and taking bold actions are the keys to realizing the world we want for our children and experiencing it ourselves in our lifetime.”—Natania Botha.
by 