Rock art - Figures & Buck 

Walter Battiss made this artwork, Rock Art - Figures & Buck, after being inspired by the ancient rock art of the indigenous San people of Southern Africa. Battiss grew up on a farm, where he became fascinated with these images, documenting them and drawing inspiration from their visual language. This work reflects the intertwined history of the land and its inhabitants. The figures, animals, and hunting scenes echo the San's deep connection to nature, their rituals, and their daily lives. The act of representing these narratives through art was a way of preserving their culture and passing down knowledge through generations. In his own words, Battiss said that he saw the rock art as “an expression of pure joy”. Battiss's work gives honor to the emotional and spiritual connection between the San people and their environment. He encourages us to appreciate the narratives, identities, and histories that are embedded within the land.