Rupert Radebe
Beneath the Baobab
My Body of Work explores my Botswana and Australian heritage through cyanotype, sepia printing, portraiture and textile construction. By bringing photography and printmaking together within a stitched quilt, I examine family, ancestry and the experience of belonging between two cultures. The quilt draws upon the visual language of traditional Botswana weaving and basketry, where repeated patterns carry knowledge, identity and connections across generations. Photographic portraits honour my family and preserve histories, while handmade stitches suggest care, memory and relationships binding us together. The baobab tree appears as a symbol of ancestry, resilience and connection. The contrasting blue of cyanotype and earthy brown of Van Dyke prints evoke the landscapes of Australia and Botswana. Through layering images, patterns and cloth, I create an archive that celebrates family and weaves my two cultural identities together.