04/01/2026
As I reflect on the year past, I gratefully acknowledge the following Organisations, Galleries and Individuals, buyers and collectors, without whom this journey would not be possible, who made it worthwhile and fulfilling, I thank God for sending y'all onto my path....
To the Mother I never had the privilege of knowing or remembering, Ivy ( Naboewieya) Eyssen, whom I lost at 18months and to Eileen ( Shireen) Bailey who raised me as her own up until 14yrs... thanks for the CapeFlats Childhood I so cherish and which informs much of my visual art pieces.
Here's to a Dad who did his level best for us in the 70's, who kidnapped me out of Red Cross Children's Hospital when I was 5½yrs old, having spent those formative years there where I remember Mom Shireen hovering over the hospital bed, I think I was about 3yrs old. The kidnap rationale was his fear I'd become a ward of the State , as Staff knew about my biological Mom's passing. To this man, who, when once I randomly asked, where's Germany, Dad? annoyingly told me to ask my mother as he doesn't know where she puts the stuff! Peace to you Ebrahim ( Boeija, Boeta Breima, Ben the Rat) Benting.
So here we go, the unsung and uncaped heroes in my story, in no particular order:
Stephy Rajagukguk and Folk at Pinelands Baptist church, Dr Linzay Rinquest, Anita Hermanus, Paul John Daniels my mentor, Fineart Africa Gallery Michelle Lewis , Grant Cornelissen( collector of Note, my Capie-friend, ) Darren Symes of the 1895 Gallery, Helen and Astrid, the RK Contemporary Gallery Riebeeck Kasteel,, The Artists Gallery 33 Bree Street the Spier Creative Block and Union House Gang in Commercial street, CT, Ingrid Wallach and Khunye Art Foundation , Tashneem, Muneerah and Aliyah, from Our Cape Town Heritage , Cape Heritage Hotel and Sisonke Gallery, RLabs House Team in Westridge, Mitchell's Plein, the Cape Flats Arts Festival, Tamerin of Locally CT , Hermien van der Merwe Artist ,
Kurt Egelhof , Pat Pillai , Selwyn Petersen , all who supported the creative efforts and invested in my work, from a son of Bonteheuwel soil, with Love from the CapeFlats, Namaste, SingaBantu, your prayers and good thoughts...to Soraya Jacobs , love you....may we prosper on throughout 2026....
