About the Eco‑Shrine

I am an artist and I live on the edge of an ancient indigenous Afro-Montaine Forest in Hogsback, South Africa. In the mornings you can hear some of the endangered Cape parrot (Poicephalus robustus) chatter as they fly to their feeding grounds. Often, in the quiet of the early morning or late afternoon, you'll see some Knysna turaco (Tauraco corythaix) hopping from branch to branch in the trees, or looking for insects on the lawn. On hot days you may see the African Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) and hear their calls as they surf the thermals in search of prey.

I created the Eco-Shrine, an outdoor artwork, in 1995 and 1996 because I felt the need to give artistic expression to the scientific facts regarding the origin of Earth and all life on Earth. I wanted to share my understanding of and sense of awe at the fundamental ecological truth of the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living creatures.

I felt deeply about the unrealistic, human-centered attitude of our current global culture, and feared the dire consequences - for all species, including humans - of climate change and other ecological abuses. [See Club of Rome and Limits to Growth, and the ongoing "6^th Great Extinction of Species".] The bricklayer Dagamnyama Wara and I started building in 1995 and the Eco-Shrine was opened in 1996.

The architecture, sculpture, mosaics, and paintings are my spontaneous reaction to the scientific story of our origins. The cement relief depicts aspects of the fossil record of the evolution of life. The mosaics are a compilation of trance-images made by the Bushman-San artists, together with images of the Cosmos taken by the Hubble space telescope. I think that ecological wisdom and modern science and technology hold the key to a sustainable future.

The Eco-Shrine attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world and is also a venue for meditation, retreats, eco-literacy workshops, and eco-art tours. The Eco-Shrine has won several awards and has often featured on radio and in magazines and national TV programmes.

The Eco-Shrine embraces spirituality but is not attached to any particular religious faith. I leave viewers to interpret the artworks from their own philosophical and spiritual viewpoints.