Sara Jardine told her mom that she would be an artist one day, after school, when she was in Grade 2. She grew up in Garlendale, Cape Town and works from her studio at home since graduating from Michaelis in 2019. Working in sculpture, zine-making and mixed-media, much of her work stems from a place of self-reflecting but also mirroring the community and worlds she interacts with.

“My entire life I lived in one place, but when I say Garlendale and I explain where that is, then people say that’s Rondebosch East. When I say Rondebosch East, people say that’s Athlone. So who knows hey, politics made that decision for us. All I know is it’s my place. It’s where I live. I’m almost an adult. I almost act like an adult. I wouldn’t be alive without my sister. I don’t like cheese. And I smaak falafel.

The title of my work, “DALA WAT YOU MUST”, is a way to unapologetically claim who you are and what you strive for. There is no official definition of the word “Dala”. The best way I can describe it is “do” or “to act”. In the Cape Flats to make it in the world, you need to dala wat you must, do what you need to do everyday to get to the place in life you want to be.”