The Girl & the Banana Leaf: Of Symbolism & Design Drawing

My name is Margueriet Jones and I'm a wildlife photographer turned visual artist whose work delves into the complex realm of identity. I'm born in South Africa, and this allowed me to grow up unrestricted. Since a very young age I've had an insatiable hunger to explore and document the world around me. This allowed me a career spent travelling, at the cost of concepts such as home, community and belonging. It was my encounters with the tribal communities of Africa that served as the catalyst for my artistic exploration into identity and belonging. Through my collection of work, I guess I'm trying to find myself as much as what I am seeking to challenge the viewer's perception of identity and the importance of self-definition. Each of my portraits represents a personal journey towards self-discovery and acceptance. Whether portraying a warrior, a matriarch, or a lost child, these faces serve as a reflection of my own inner world, allowing myself to take ownership of my identity and explore the possibilities of who i can become. I use Charcoal on Fine Art Paper and canvas in my artistic process. This choice of medium grants me the opportunity to highlight the nature of my work which lies in simplifying the complexities of being human. By merging my background in photography with my exploration of personal identity, I hope to find myself and others in the process. I am a self taught artist who started my artistic career in 2021. My work has been exhibited in SA galleries and has garnered recognition for their authentic nature.