In this interview I’m speaking with South African sculptor and installation artist Snelihle Maphumulo, an extraordinary young creative whose work is deeply rooted in both her Zulu heritage and her Christian faith.
Snelihle was born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and she studied Fine Art, Sculpture, and Visual Culture at Rhodes University. What makes her work so unique is the material she chooses to work with: sheep hide.
In Zulu tradition, hide carries cultural significance—it's connected to ceremonies, identity, and ancestral heritage. But for Snelihle, the sheep hide also has a powerful spiritual meaning. It represents the biblical idea of God as the Shepherd and humanity as the sheep under His care.
Through her sculptures and installations, she uses the hide to express the themes of protection, guidance, and faith. Her artworks often create quiet, contemplative spaces that invite you to reflect on the relationship between the physical material and the spiritual symbolism behind it.
What I love about her practice is how she brings together two worlds—her cultural roots and her personal Christian belief—without separating them. Instead, she weaves them into a conversation, showing how tradition and faith can coexist and inform each other in beautiful and unexpected ways.
In this interview, Snelihle shares how she transforms this traditional material into a message of hope, vulnerability, and divine connection. Her work is not just about sculpture—it’s about storytelling, identity, and the deep relationship between culture and spirituality.
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In this interview I’m speaking with South African sculptor and installation artist Snelihle Maphumulo, an extraordinary young creative whose work is deeply rooted in both her Zulu heritage and her Christian faith.
Snelihle was born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and she studied Fine Art, Sculpture, and Visual Culture at Rhodes University. What makes her work so unique is the material she chooses to work with: sheep hide.
In Zulu tradition, hide carries cultural significance—it's connected to ceremonies, identity, and ancestral heritage. But for Snelihle, the sheep hide also has a powerful spiritual meaning. It represents the biblical idea of God as the Shepherd and humanity as the sheep under His care.
Through her sculptures and installations, she uses the hide to express the themes of protection, guidance, and faith. Her artworks often create quiet, contemplative spaces that invite you to reflect on the relationship between the physical material and the spiritual symbolism behind it.
What I love about her practice is how she brings together two worlds—her cultural roots and her personal Christian belief—without separating them. Instead, she weaves them into a conversation, showing how tradition and faith can coexist and inform each other in beautiful and unexpected ways.
In this interview, Snelihle shares how she transforms this traditional material into a message of hope, vulnerability, and divine connection. Her work is not just about sculpture—it’s about storytelling, identity, and the deep relationship between culture and spirituality.
Evelyn Johnson on Voice, Vision, and Finding Your Own Way
Petra Sittig
43 minutes 55 seconds
6 days ago
Evelyn Johnson on Voice, Vision, and Finding Your Own Way
In this interview, I speak with Evelyn Johnson, a classical singer based in Madrid. Evelyn shares insights from her extensive training at Saint Olaf College, The University of Texas at Austin, and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she studied with renowned soprano and pedagogue Costanza Cuccaro.
We explore Evelyn’s journey as a young singer, her many interests, and her entrepreneurial spirit, which later taught her the importance of nurturing other passions alongside a music career. She reflects on how discovering her own identity and individuality as an artist is essential, and how singers should be guided to find their own unique path rather than comparing themselves to others.
Evelyn also talks about how starting her own business and pursuing other interests has allowed her to approach her music career with clarity, freedom, and less stress. She shares her vision for forming a vocal ensemble of eight female voices and offers wisdom on how to see possibilities in every aspect of a musical journey.
Grounded, thoughtful, and inspiring, Evelyn’s story offers valuable guidance for young singers on how to approach their careers, embrace their artistry, and cultivate a sustainable, fulfilling path in music.
Petra Sittig
In this interview I’m speaking with South African sculptor and installation artist Snelihle Maphumulo, an extraordinary young creative whose work is deeply rooted in both her Zulu heritage and her Christian faith.
Snelihle was born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and she studied Fine Art, Sculpture, and Visual Culture at Rhodes University. What makes her work so unique is the material she chooses to work with: sheep hide.
In Zulu tradition, hide carries cultural significance—it's connected to ceremonies, identity, and ancestral heritage. But for Snelihle, the sheep hide also has a powerful spiritual meaning. It represents the biblical idea of God as the Shepherd and humanity as the sheep under His care.
Through her sculptures and installations, she uses the hide to express the themes of protection, guidance, and faith. Her artworks often create quiet, contemplative spaces that invite you to reflect on the relationship between the physical material and the spiritual symbolism behind it.
What I love about her practice is how she brings together two worlds—her cultural roots and her personal Christian belief—without separating them. Instead, she weaves them into a conversation, showing how tradition and faith can coexist and inform each other in beautiful and unexpected ways.
In this interview, Snelihle shares how she transforms this traditional material into a message of hope, vulnerability, and divine connection. Her work is not just about sculpture—it’s about storytelling, identity, and the deep relationship between culture and spirituality.
