Sonja Swanepoel’s Avian Sculptures Highlight Humanity’s Connection to Nature

Amid the serene beauty of Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, sculptor and environmental architect Sonja Swanepoel is captivating audiences with her latest exhibition, AVIAN.

The series is not only mesmerising in form but also serves as a wake-up call to the fragile state of our global ecosystems.

“You don’t have to like an art piece because I tell you this is amazing,” Swanepoel insists. “I think it’s very important to connect on an emotional level.”

Her AVIAN series, currently scattered throughout Kirstenbosch, takes viewers on a journey through humanity’s ancient relationship with birds. These sculptures invite reflection on the roles birds play in maintaining ecological balance, while also highlighting the strain modern society places on their existence.

A Journey from Curiosity to Urgency

Swanepoel’s path as an artist began with simple, organic forms. Over time, her practice evolved into works that speak to the shared existence of all species. The inspiration for AVIAN arrived in 2020, when a friend sent her a photograph of pigeons perched precariously near a bustling Johannesburg street. Their grace amid danger stirred something deeper.

This moment gave birth to works such as Avis fractii, a haunting piece depicting a bird with a severed wing – a stark metaphor for the imbalance threatening our ecosystems. “You do one sculpture, and you’re like, okay, maybe I should do two. Or three,” she recalls. “I started with very simple forms, very simplistic shapes.”

Sculptures with a Message

Each work in the series carries weight far beyond its visual appeal. From extinction to factory farming, the sculptures reflect the fragility of life. By creating interconnected forms, Swanepoel underscores the importance of avian communities—and, by extension, humanity’s responsibility to protect them.

“It’s about how they interact with each other, the play of space,” she explains. Her art is as much a call to environmental stewardship as it is a showcase of creativity.

Kirstenbosch: A Place of Resonance

Exhibiting at Kirstenbosch is especially poignant for Swanepoel. “It’s like connecting this kind of perfect place with something so close to my heart—species extinction,” she says. The contrast between the Garden’s beauty and the urgent environmental issues at stake amplifies her message.

By merging art with environmental activism, Swanepoel hopes to transform quiet introspection into broader collective action. For her, the true value of AVIAN lies not in universal acceptance but in sparking reflection. She hopes each visitor leaves with a renewed sensitivity to their place within the natural world.

Accessible Art, Global Message

All works in the AVIAN series are available in a variety of sizes and media, supported by a detailed catalogue and price list on request. This ensures the exhibition reaches both seasoned collectors and those discovering her work for the first time.

Ultimately, Swanepoel’s sculptures are more than works of art. They are reminders of our shared responsibility—a delicate balance between humanity and the natural world we too often take for granted.