NI-SHAAT BARDIEN

SHALNER CHING

"As a Cape Malay Woman, my history has been shaped by displacement, erasure and layered traumas of apartheid and history. Fra(u)gmented offers a space for me to explore these fractures, as sites of meaning and reclamation. In turn, I hope to honour the women that came before me and the traditions they carried. The traditions shaped who I am today ,therefore , I hope to bring these traditions into a broader conversation, offering a space for others to reflect on their own cultural fragments and identity."

"This exhibition is important to me because it holds a sense of community as the golden thread at a time when the Apartheid government seemed to have no sense of the rich flavours and textures beyond their racist view of the world. If only they would have paused and observed and shared of themselves. My work aims to provide context to this intangible feeling of community. My celebrates the stories of those who lived through this experience. The materials I gather and utilise are imbued with the traditions and nostalgia of the families because I have reached out to them, visited with them and listened to their lived experiences of a time when Community was a superb gift."

At Our Cape Town Heritage, we are dedicated to uplifting marginalized artists by offering tangible assistance that enables them to present their cultural artwork to a broader audience. Our mission is to create opportunities that allow these talented individuals to share their art with a wider audience, ensuring that their voices are heard.

We believe in the transformative power of art and strive to empower those who have been overlooked or underrepresented in the artistic landscape.

EMPOWERING MARGINALIZED ARTISTS BY PROVIDING PRACTICAL SUPPORT TO SHOWCASE THEIR ARTWORK

OUR TOTE BAGS CAN NOW BE FOUND ON SALE AT THE CAPE HERITAGE HOTEL

• EDUCATING AND INSPIRING COMMUNITIES TO EMBRACE CULTURAL HERITAGE

WINNER

Our Cape Town Heritage is honoured to announce that we have received the following award from the Western Cape Government DCAS:

Contribution by a Conservative Body, Heritage Organization, Museums towards the Promotion of Local History, Heritage or Renaming of Geographical Features

Receiving this award was an unexpected honour (it was our first nomination and award) and it serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of our work as a team in the last three years. The acknowledgment we've received fuels our commitment to continue our mission of educating the communities, marginalized artists, and youth that we aim to support.

2025 Cultural Awards

Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport

Our Mission

Our Cape Town Heritage (OCTH) is a registered non-profit organization that preserves Cape heritage and culture by exploring visual art and history through education. OCTH reclaims the narrative of Cape Town’s diverse heritage and cultures by 'decolonizing the art world' through accessibility and storytelling.

PBO No. 930078605

*Section 18a certificate to be authorised , on request, when donating or sponsoring