Blog Post 4 – Art Across Continents: Exploring the Beauty of Global Creativity

Art, It Is In Everything

Art. To me, everything in life is art. It’s in the way we love, the way we speak, the way we dress. It’s in the golden rays of sunlight filtering through the forest, in the way a flower blossoms, in the footprints you left in the snow, or in the quiet beauty of sharing time with friends. It’s in the way your tears roll down your cheeks in moments of pain, it’s when the corners of your mouth crease when you smile. Above all, we find art in the craftsmanship of human hands - a woven textile, a carved piece of wood, a silver ring shaped by fire and patience, a painting… You name it. Art is both what we create and what we allow ourselves to notice in the world around us.

From Ancient Rock Paintings to Modern Expression: South Africa

When I was studying Wildlife Management in South Africa, on one of our unforgettable bush walks we went to some rock formations on someone’s private land. So, this is a place that has never been open to the public. Hidden among the rocks, in a cave and overhang, were paintings created by hunter-gatherers - perhaps the San people. These paintings were earthy reds and other natural pigments, telling stories in symbols: animals in motion, people, rituals, daily life. I remember one painting showing a bunch of curvy women - perhaps the first version of playboy ever made? - and another showing herds of animals.

Our teacher explained that these rock paintings weren’t just decorative. They were a kind of map or way of communication: signs whether a place was good to camp, good for hunting, where animals passed by or where they lingered. The suggestion that the direction in which animals were drawn - facing left or right - is likely to carry meaning - a good spot ahead, or a warning, or maybe a place rich in game. Historically, we know San rock art in regions like the Drakensberg to be about 3000 years old, though some art in Southern Africa may be many, many thousands of years old. These images weren’t just there to be pretty - they were alive with meaning: stories, spiritual journeys, communication with nature and survival. They show us that art and life have always been intertwined.

Now this was not the only art I found inspiring in South Africa. There was the round design of the houses on the wild coast, the gorgeous coastline with green hills, rock formations and impressive cliffs. The facial painting, the dancing, the music and the vibrant fabrics. And perhaps the most powerful of all: the openness, the way they invite you into their homes and share their food with you, even though, from a Western perspective, they seemed to have very little. That, too, is a kind of art: the art of living generously.

Art in Australia: From Aboriginal Paintings to Modern Craft

From the rock paintings of South Africa to another ancient tradition of storytelling through images - Aboriginal rock art in Australia. Standing in front of the paintings in and around Uluru and other parts of the Northern Territory was an experience from another world. These works weren’t just beautiful patterns; they were maps, stories of connections to ancestors and the land itself. Aboriginal art often carries deep spiritual meaning, representing Dreamtime stories - the origins of the world, the people, the animals and sacred landscapes. Just as the San painted their understanding of life and survival. Aboriginal artists painted their universe into existence, bridging the past with the present. They still do today, but now through dot art with acrylics. I’ve seen some incredibly impressive artworks!

I have always loved art and going to museums. However, it wasn’t until Australia I realised I am quite an artist myself through painting and photography. In Australia I ended up working at Origins Market in Busselton. I was surrounded by artisans and makers. Every stall holder, each with their own story, working together to make the concept work. From handmade ceramics to intricate jewellery, from woven textiles to freshly baked goods crafted with love. It was a marketplace, but also a community where creativity thrived and where I realised art isn’t just about what’s ancient and sacred - it’s also about what we create in our everyday lives to share with others. Being in that environment reminded me how much inspiration can be found when people come together to create, exchange and celebrate craftsmanship. Unfortunately we live in a world of consumption, where we massively buy things made in China, with little soul and for very cheap rates. Although there is even art in that, nothing beats proper craftsmanship.

Art in Vietnam: From Hội An Lanterns to Everyday Culture

After South Africa and Australia, a plane took me to Asia for the first time ever. I spent about a month and a half exploring Vietnam! Art in Vietnam is everywhere; it was in the streets, in the markets, in the food, the way their hectic traffic is as if it is a rough river stream. In Hội An, it is the lanterns lighting up the nights with soft, glowing colors each one carefully created and painted by hand. Even a simple bowl of phở, arranged with herbs and colors, felt like its own little masterpiece. Vietnam is another example of how culture itself becomes a canvas.

Latin America – Living Art, Breathing Culture

Arriving in Latin America - and especially in Peru, where I am now - felt like stepping into a world where art isn’t separate from life — it is a huge part of the daily activities. In Pisac, a small town in the Sacred Valley, I am finding myself surrounded by artisans who carry generations of knowledge in their hands. I learned to work with silver and bronze, and saw how much of the soul flows into a simple ring or pendant, just as I let a part of me flow into my paintings. This sometimes makes it hard to detach and actually sell art, because it feels so personal. The art is an extension of oneself. The more special it was when I was gifted one of those handmade rings, during a ritual by the river, offering to Pachamama - Mother Earth. To me, jewellery is not just decoration, it also symbolises gratitude, connection and belonging.

In Peru, art and ceremony go hand in hand. Flowers placed in rivers, fires lit for Pachamama, murals brightening street corners, the Mochica figures decorating the paving stones in the street— creativity and spirituality are woven together so tightly that they can’t be told apart. Just like the Inca walls that still stand strong, the art here reminds me that beauty and strength live side by side.

Conclusion – Common Threads and Future Visions

Looking back on these journeys - from South Africa’s cave paintings to the stories told in the red dust of Australia’s Outback, from Vietnam’s glowing lanterns to the Sacred Valley of Peru — I see the same truth reflected again and again: art is universal. It takes different forms, but at its core, it is about connection. Connection to nature, to the sacred, to each other - and to ourselves.

Even the symbols repeat. Across continents, for example, the snake appears as a sacred being — in Aboriginal stories, in Asian mythologies, in Mayan and Andean traditions. Always representing cycles, transformation, and renewal. It reminds me that although the world is vast and cultures are many, there are invisible threads that tie us together.

These experiences have planted ideas in my mind for my future. I’d love to combine my dream of opening my own hotel with hosting workshops and events, where people from all over the world can come together to paint, to create, to tell stories — and to see how much we already share. Because art is not just something decorative: Art is something we live.

With warmth,
Kimberly 🌻