WELCOME TO
THE SMOKE ART ROOM

Smoke Art is an art style that consists of staining a surface with the smoke from a candle’s flame.By using a variety of self-made and existing tools, the soot can be scraped, brushed or rubbed away to expose the white areas.With a velvet-like finish, it gives the artwork a unique depth and spirit.

with Bibi

ABOUT THE ARTIST

BIBI

(BIANCA BOTHA)

The bushveld is more than just an iconic biome of Africa. My heart was born there, raised there, and will always return to there. Animals have always been a big part of my life, so my art focuses on representing not just "wildlife", but their influence on our world. I capture emotions and moments that helps us see them through a different light.

GALLERY

Shortlisted for the

DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year
2024

Venture, a Smoke Artwork of a mother Cape Vulture with her chick, is going to London in July, 2024!

About the Artwork:

In January of 2024, Vulpro - a South African vulture sanctuary,
launched a two-year project to relocate 160 vultures to the Eastern Cape.

I received permission from Vulpro to use a photo of one of their vultures. I chose the mother and her chick because it symbolises their hope for a better future, as well as correlates with the purpose of the new home these birds were being relocated to.

The new sanctuary is a breeding ground where all the Cape Vultures who cannot be reintroduced into the wild are given a chance to help increase their population through a breeding facility.

It is estimated that there are 9000 to 12 000 mature adults left in the world.

Who is DSWF?

DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year is an internationally renowned wildlife art competition and exhibition. Each year it attracts entries from some of the most talented artists around the globe, who come together to celebrate the beauty of the natural world. DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year has attracted more than 17,500 entries, and through entry fees, exhibition sales, and sponsorships, has raised nearly £2 million .

Each year, the exhibition showcases a breathtaking selection of shortlisted artworks which portray a variety of techniques and mediums, all commended by our expert judging panel. From recycled plastic sculptures to intricate pencil drawings, vast colourful oil paintings and everything in between, you’ll find the world’s best wildlife art on display. With entry income and 50% of the proceeds from all artwork sales supporting DSWF and our frontline conservation partners in Africa and Asia, this exhibition highlights how we can use art to create something powerful and ignite the conversation about conservation

Who is Vulpro?

VulPro is an internationally recognized and respected vulture non-profit conservation organisation that specialises in rescue and rehabilitation, research in its entirety, education and conservation breeding for restocking.

Regal

Smoke Art on Paper
70 x 100cm
As one of the big 5, the rhino is a well-known icon of Africa. I felt inspired to try and capture this rugged skinned giant in a Smoke piece.
Rhinos are poached for their horns. Some people believe that the horns contain magical medicinal properties, while others see it as a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
Considering that their horns are made of keratin, these individuals should consider chewing their own fingernails instead. Our hair and nails are made of the exact same substance. Your “cure” is literally at your fingertips.

This smoke piece proved to be one of my most challenging artworks to date. Its rock-like textures and wrinkles were a true test of patience and practise.

MAJESTIC

Smoke Art on Paper 70 x 100cm
The lion has been a symbol of pride and power for centuries. Their muscular build, sharp claws, and powerful jaws make them formidable hunters and apex predators. So of course, as the iconic animal of Africa, it seemed fitting to give this king a majestic and striking composition that carries that same power in its gaze.

VENTURE

In January of 2024, Vulpro - a South African vulture sanctuary, launched a two-year project to relocate 160 vultures to the Eastern Cape.

I received permission from Vulpro to use a photo of one of their vultures. I chose the mother and her chick because it symbolises their hope for a better future, as well as correlates with the purpose of the new home these birds were being relocated to.

The new sanctuary is a breeding ground where all the Cape Vultures, who cannot be reintroduced into the wild, are given a chance to help increase their population through a breeding facility.

It is estimated that there are 9000 to 12 000 mature adults left in the world.

PROSPER

When you ask someone what they know about cheetahs, the first thing that you will hear is that they are endangered. The second thing that you will hear is that they are elegant and fast. Calling a cheetah endangered is such a universally accepted and repeated fact that we often forget the seriousness of this statement. In a time where their endangered status is almost normalized, my art seeks to depict their hope in a fresh perspective, emphasizing their resilience and vitality through the eyes of an optimistic young adult. Before they become the elegant and poised cats that we know, they enter a young adult phase where their curiosity is at its peak, and they are free to explore their world. Everything is new and exciting, and their energy fuels them to learn and understand their surroundings. The glimmer of childish joy is vivid in their eyes. My goal is to show a side to these cats that is more relatable to our own lives. No matter your age, every day holds new challenges and lessons. Every day we have the possibility to grow as individuals. For them, these opportunities die the day they disappear from our planet. Around 6500 adult individuals still exist today. As the gene pool becomes smaller, their chance of survival dwindles even more.

SPIRITED

The leopard holds a special place as one of my personal favorites. These solitary creatures navigate the bushveld, presenting challenges when contending with neighboring rivals. Renowned for their tree-climbing prowess, this skill becomes essential in a habitat shared with pack animals like hyenas and formidable competitors such as lions, who are quick to seize hard-earned prey. Capable of hoisting carcasses weighing up to 60kg into the treetops, leopards employ this tactic to elude other predators in the bushveld. When confronted or cornered, their reflexes are remarkably swift. Unlike lions, which focus on one assailant at a time, leopards can simultaneously fend off multiple attackers. Their speed and agility extend to pursuits of smaller prey, like monkeys, amidst the branches. To outsmart adversaries and capture nimble prey, leopards rely on speed, agility, and intelligence. The raw power emanating from their poised stance and focused gaze signals a formidable force - one not to be underestimated.

MISFIT

I never thought I would consider a hyena as one of my art pieces. It lacks the beauty of a leopard or lion, the fame of a rhino or elephant, and gets little spotlight for anything other than its chaotic cackle and odd physical build. Hyenas are portrayed as naïve, idiotic and cowardly. They are compared to jokesters and are seen as nothing more than greedy scavengers. It was time to turn the tables. Not only are hyenas excellent hunters, but they are considered one of the smartest animals in Africa. Their intelligence tends to evolve in the same manner as ours. They rely on a complex social structure to thrive and can even count. In the wild, hyena males count the number of males in a new clan before trying to join. They can even determine which clans have more members than theirs do, to make the most strategic decisions when fighting for territories. During a ‘group problem solving’ experiment, the spotted hyena did better than a chimpanzee in certain categories. Talk about a monkey’s uncle... As if intelligence isn’t enough, they have nearly double the bite force of a lion. They can crack bones that are nearly 6cm (around 2.4 inches) in diameter to get to the nutrient-rich marrow on the inside. If any medium could truly represent this unique and hidden gem of Africa, it is smoke art. Smoke Art has a darker, yet warmer, tone than charcoal, which captures a more natural ‘light’ in the face of any animal done in this medium. Our terrifying friend can truly emerge out of the depths of the night, as if painted in moonlight. He can stare into your soul and smell your fear. I’m surprised that he is not part of the big 5.

PAINTED IN SMOKE 1

The African Wild Dog, also known as the Painted Wild Dog, has a colourful, patchy coat, large bat-like ears, and a bushy white tipped tail that some believe might help with communication during a hunt, or help pups keep up with a parent. No two wild dogs have the same spots. The African Wild Dogs’ numbers are estimated at a severe 6 600 left in the world, and their numbers are still declining even with conservation efforts. Human conflict, infectious diseases, habitat loss and larger predators all play a role in their slow disappearance from our planet. As if this is not enough, accidental killings by cars on the road and snares set for other animals by farmers and/or poachers makes it even harder for this species to increase its numbers again.

PAINTED IN SMOKE II

REFLECT

Impalas are the most commonly seen antelope at the Kruger National Park, and one of the main food sources for most of the African predators. I’ve heard South Africans joke about the impala being the ‘McDonalds’ of the bushveld, due to the prominent ‘M’ shape seen on its tail, and the fact that it is widely popular for making ‘biltong’. A favourite South African delicacy. They are extremely alert animals with flexible necks to help them scan the bushveld for potential predators… probably quite handy when you’re everyone’s favourite meal. I decided to call this artwork ‘Reflect’, since the impala needs to constantly think, plan and analyse to stay ahead of its predators. Every move determines if it will see another day. I believe a lot of us could relate to the impala to some extent. We all need to constantly think things through and plan ahead. Life can be tough, and the choices even more so. Sometimes, our simplest choices can feel like they could make or break our whole future. It is often good to reflect on what you know, and what you have been taught. As long as you keep going. .

CARACAL

An underrated African animal, the caracal is an amazing predator of the bushveld. Its most prominent feature is its distinctive tufted ears. Caracals are skilled hunters and primarily feed on small to medium-sized mammals, such as rodents, hares, and birds. They are known for their impressive ability to leap high into the air to catch birds in flight. I wanted to focus on the eyes of this elegant predator. Their eyes portray a level of innocence that is almost deceiving. It is one of Africa’s most successful hunters, and it defies gravity as it leaps into the air to capture its fleeing prey. Every move captures a level of grace, but the true strength and focus of this intellectual cat can be found in its big, round, curious eyes.

KICKING DUST

Guinea Fowls are an iconic animal of the bushveld. They are typically social birds, live in small groups and mate for life. Although they are very good runners and prefer to run from predators rather than fly, the guinea fowl can fly short distances to dodge the claws and teeth of their chasers. They are great indicators of danger and will screech and dodge in all directions to alert the rest of the group of a threat. This warns any nearby prey that a predator is in the vicinity. The last thing to be seen after the alarm is raised by a flock member, is a large cloud of dust. This piece shows 2 guinea fowls scanning their surroundings after the flock scatters. The dust is thick and prominent as they try to determine which way to flee.

WELCOME TOTHE SMOKE ART ROOM