Hanneke, symbolises “Grace and Favour”.
The 4.5-meter-tall Hanneke Sculpture by Sandro Trapani is made withasSteel frame , layered polyurethane foam , cladded in cement and her hair is made from a tree root ball from the farm. She proudly stands overlooking the dam, with hands stretched out and wearing roots as a crown—a symbol of environmental preservation.
"Think like amountain" – Arne Naess.
Recognising that we are part of the biosphere, Naess, in his publication, Ecology, Society and Lifestyle(1974), urges that we, as a species, are responsible for all other living things. There is a call for us to consider the long-term interests of the environment. For humanity to live well involves an attitude of equality towards every element of our environment.
Hanneke is embedded in the landscape under open skies, rolling hills, trees and bodies of water. She wears the roots of trees as a crown, not for glory or as a sign of conquest, but as one of preservation and care for our environment. Simultaneously rooted and uprooted, Hanneke, without hesitation, stretches out her hand to give and receive.Her grace is demonstrated through this gesture of kindness. She becomes a conduit between person and nature. What is given by her, or given to her, is returned through water falling from her hands back to the earth. She welcomes you and provides shelter. She creates a sanctuary from the harms we may cause to ourselves or to others. She offers a space for the reflection and contemplation of our engagement with our “ecological self” (Naess).
She represents both humanit yand nature, inviting us to return to living as our ancestors did, holding in high regard the respect they had for their environment and all living things –in the Khoi San tradition, thanking the earth for its provisions, especially after a successful hunt, is a sign of respect.
