The picture is part of a series of portraits of South African women and girls who reflect different generations. What unites them, is the recurring desire for a better life, fed by similar hopes. Hope for the end of the remnants of apartheid and political corruption, hope for less violence, hope for paid work, hope for better education, hope for better living conditions.

What remains after years of political and social change are patriarchal stuctures within families, physical abuse, a high unemployment rate, a very high crime rate, social inequality, serious problems in the education system, lack of opportunities, racism and poverty. Shattered dreams are inevitable, but the hope for change for future generations remain. Women stay the pillars of their families and demonstrate strength and confidence.

The use of salt in my body of work serves as a symbol for recurring problems under similar conditions. Just as salt has had an enormous influence on the development of history worldwide in political, religious, economic and cultural terms, the coarse salt, used in a 3D layer, illustrates in this context external circumstances that have shaped the country and its people.

All my portraits of this series are rather shadowy, but the age is recognizable, representing the respective age group. The intentional similarity in the tonality and perceived texture convey the omnipresence of the mentioned socio-political issues across generations.