One of my all-time favourite places to visit in Gqeberha is still Happy Valley.

In recent months, Happy Valley has been on the radar across social media regarding the state of the park. Naming, blaming, and shaming have largely been the theme of these posts. Many videos have been posted, mostly complaints, but not one has been an ‘action to dissatisfaction’.

Since my Honours research and practical are focused on Happy Valley, this time prepared with a pool net, we once again headed to my happy place for a cleanup and to take in all the beauty this space still has to offer. While cleaning up litter others have left behind, I use the litter as materials to create the artworks for the practical component of my research.

The purpose of this post is not to name, shame and point fingers, but rather to encourage the good people of Gqeberha to take the time to have a stroll through Happy Valley. It may not be lit up with beautiful lights and sculptures, but the beauty that nature has on display is incredibly peaceful. Yes, you’re going to stumble across litter; yes, you’re going to find broken infrastructure, but if we don’t inhabit the space, what incentive is there for change? Take along family and friends, a pair of gloves and a plastic bag, and as you make your way through, enjoying the beauty of nature’s chaos, collect some litter, make your impact and encourage change. I’ll even take the litter off your hands.

This post is not intended to brag about doing a quick 1-hour clean-up, but rather to encourage others to make use of the space and, rather than complain about its state, put in a small effort to make a change. Many small efforts result in big change.

1-hour cleanup: 46 glass bottles, 74 plastic bottles, many, many plastic bags.

Sitting in our coffee shop, I often feel a great sense of relief knowing that all our disposable and take-away packaging is made from sugar cane and is 100% biodegradable and compostable.  It makes me feel like I am being a responsible member of society and of nature…then someone orders a 500ml still water!  URGH!  Really?

I asked Angie, our lovely sculler, to please start collecting all the plastic bottles for me.  None are allowed to go into the trash.  Angie loves her job and is very eager to please, so she has taken this request very seriously.  Anyone who throws a plastic bottle away now stands to be on the receiving end of the wrath of Angie! 

I had a ‘think fast’ moment when the plastic bottles started making their way to our home because I had no idea what I was going to do with them.  Like I value my Angie, I have a Justen too.  Justen is an insanely intelligent, super clued-up Techi, Scientist, all-around clever guy!  No matter what I tell Justen I would like to achieve through my practice, he has a solution!  So, I asked Justen if we could build a filament extruder to turn PET plastic into 3D print filament.  His calm reply was a YES, we need this component, that component and some aluminium.  Literally, all that I understood was ‘aluminium’.  And we got started.

Under the very clever direction of Justen, I did and procured what was needed, and he made the magic.  As a result, we are now successfully turning disposed water bottles into 3D printing filament AND successfully printing.

I cannot put into words how excited I am!  I knew it was possible, but the how is beyond my expertise, and the fact that as a collective we have succeeded proves that at times, collaboration is key to success.

Thank you to Angie and Justen for seeing my vision and sharing in the passion!

As preparations for the Sasol New Signature 2026 submissions are underway, I took a moment to reflect on the 2025 journey.

Entering Sasol New Signatures for the first time in 2025 was an incredible experience. Nerves were high because, entering for the first time, you are not quite sure what to expect.

The entire process, from creating to completing entry forms and writing artist statements, is valuable for any young artist. The standards are high, so submissions need to be professional, well-documented and organised. It provides valuable insight into what is required in the professional art world beyond university submissions.

It was an honour and a priceless step in my art career to be selected as a finalist from over one thousand submissions nationwide.

View the 2025 Sasol New Signatures Finalists Catalogue here.

Download the 2026 Sasol New Signatures Entry Form here.

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