SHAPING Africa's Stories

Jeffreys Bay-based Artist Marlene Liebenberg captures character and heritage through striking resin-composite sculptures that tell Africa's rich, layered stories

- SAVANNA DOUGLAS

When her love for hiking took her across Southern Africa in her 30s – from the Transkaroo to Amatola and Namibia's Fish River Canyon, Marlene Liebenberg’s on-foot expeditions sparked a fascination with indigenous and traditional African culture, shaping the artistic vision she would later bring to life in sculpture.

‘I hiked long before becoming an artist. Our hiking club trekked trails and paths on foot in South Africa and beyond. The shifting landscapes, wildlife and cultures I encountered on these adventures enamoured me. It was a deeply inspiring time,’ says Marlene.

Now in her 60s, the former field guide and explorer creates sculptures that express a deep fascination for Africa’s people and nature. Her work depicts Khoisan hunters, Zulu warriors and people of the Mursi tribe, and extraordinary individuals, such as Nelson Mandela, and Ouma Katrina Esau, the last fluent speaker of the critically endangered N|uu indigenous language.

Marlene honed her sculpting abilities in technical college, preferring handbuilding over wheel throwing. ‘I'm partial to working with my hands on an expression that tells a story.’