The Himba are semi-nomadic cattle herders in the north of Namibia and across the border into southern Angola. This woman was among those celebrating the first Scriptures in Himba: the gospel of Mark. The translation of the New Testament is progressing well, and many stories are also used for Oral Bible Translation. Without compromising on accuracy, stories are translated using natural Himba story telling principles. These communicate very well in this mostly oral culture. They also love singing and many Bible passages have aleady been turned into songs.

(The artist Johanna Pillinger and her husband Steve have been with Wycliffe BT for over 40 years, and Johanna made several trips to Opuwo in the Himba area. The drawing is based on a photograph by their daughter Jennifer Pillinger.)

This mother speaks one of the Makhuwa variants, a family of languages in the north of Mozambique and the largest language group in the country. But like many others, she is an oral communicator and no Scripture was available in a form suitable for oral communication. This is now changing as a result of OBT&T – Oral Bible Translation and Transcription. This is the translation of Bible passages in a way that they are accurate and engaging for oral communities. Translation is continuing in three Makhua variants under the supervision of Dr. Bonifacio Paulo, senior Bible Translation Consultant for Wycliffe South Africa. He is a Makhua himself.

(The artist Johanna Pillinger and her husband Steve have been with Wycliffe BT for over 40 years. The drawing is based on photographs by the artist Jennifer Pillinger.)

The Rendille are nomadic camel herders in Northern Kenya. In 1982 a South African couple joined Wycliffe and were called to these “people tall and smooth-skinned, a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, who’s land is divided by rivers” (Isiah 18:7 NIV). Their practical love and perseverance broke the resistance, and slowly the New Testament was translated. In 2018 there was a massive, joyful celebration as the New Testament was dedicated and this warrior was one of many attending in his celebration outfit.

The Word of God took root, and led to many people surrendering themselves to Christ with a living faith. Young men went to Bible College and became pastors and evangelists. The couple, now retired, continue to support the Rendille translators on-line as they translate the O.T.

(The artist Johanna Pillinger and her husband Steve have been with Wycliffe BT for over 40 years. For around 10 ten years they worked as support workers to the Rendille Project. The drawing is based on a photograph by their daughter, the artist Jennifer Pillinger.)

This man, from a country in South East Asia, is dressed in his traditional apparel to celebrate the dedication of the New Testament in his own language. As a result of the translation, local pastors are now able to teach with greater understanding, and both churches and individuals are being strengthened and emboldened in their faith. A bible school has started and translation of the Old Testament is on it’s way. The couple involved are members of Wycliffe South Africa and have faced, and are facing, many years of hardships and challenges both workwise and personal. God’s Word is making way into a spiritual dark region, but “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5 NIV).

(The artist Johanna Pillinger and her husband Steve have been with Wycliffe BT for over 40 years. The drawing is based on a photograph by the wife of the Wycliffe couple.)

Sea Tree III

At the beginning of last year, my young niece brought me a dried sea plant - a sea tree – from their holiday. I combined the image of the sea tree with the text of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians, which is where our congregation spent most of last year. The third layer of this work resulted from ink that was runnier than I thought. My frustration was short-lived because I realised that things in water rise to the surface. And this became a representation of praise rising to God.

Sea Currents

Collages are integral to my artistic presence as they make use of seemingly useless failed prints to create something new. It is a constant reminder that God can and will restore everything broken. The movement of currents are evident in how they move those in the water – never still. At the time of making this work, I had spent many hours thinking about the sea, oceans, water and looking for these elements in the Bible. It was my paraphrase of Hab. 2:14 which became a handwritten element in many works “…knowledge of the glory of God will cover the earth as waters cover the sea”.

“Contours of Grace” was specifically made in response to the theme of the Jubilee exhibition, “God Loves Africa”.

Atlases and maps have always fascinated me, so my first stop was Google Maps where I could view various layers and also zoom out. The terrain layer showed me topography and elevation through contour lines. Then when zooming out so that I could see the whole continent, Maps showed a circle with Brazil, Europe and parts of Asia shown at the sides in a way that suggests the curve of the Earth. In the planning stage I played with the circle - keeping in mind the use thereof in Byzantine art. But I decided on a square in order to reference the shape of the Holy of Holies. The straight lines of the square also made for an interesting contrast with the coastline of Africa, and the handwritten text I use.

The text repeated over and over and written in script is a paraphrase of Hab. 2:14 “…knowledge of the glory of God will cover the earth as waters cover the sea”. It is by grace that we are saved, and the impact of God’s grace continues spreading like ripples until “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:11).

Sea Grass I

I have a lot of prints that fail in some way or another. Using these seemingly useless prints to create collages not only result in new works but is also a reminder that God can and will restore everything broken. Collages have therefore become integral to my artistic practice – each collage unique despite me making a number of them with similar elements.

Sea Grass uses text from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians which is where our congregation spent most of last year. The other elements represent the vast oceans which cover most of the earth and took me to many places in the Bible: the creation narrative, the parting of waters with the Exodus images shown to the prophets and Jesus’s baptism and Him walking on water.