ABOUT MARIE DANIEL
I’m Marie Daniel, a South African artist currently based in Kigali, Rwanda. My creative and personal journey spans multiple countries, shaped by my first departure from post-Apartheid South Africa at the age of 18. Having witnessed the injustices of the Apartheid era as a child, I committed myself to the lifelong pursuit of social justice for all.
Art has always been a passionate practice for me, running parallel to my academic exploration in urban studies. My fascination with the interplay between urban spaces and human wellbeing is a recurring theme in my work. This interest is vividly reflected in my evocative depictions of “moments in time” captured in rural Rwandan villages, where I explore the subtle dynamics between people and their environments.
As part of my journey, I’ve worked for civil society organisations, advocating for the vulnerable and marginalised. These experiences deepened my understanding of the complexities of human life within urban and rural contexts, and highlighted a recurring realisation: the profound disconnection between humans and the natural world.
My work now centres on this critical relationship. I observe that modern life often positions humanity as separate from, rather than in symbiosis with, nature—leading to its disregard and destruction. In response, I’ve shifted my focus to full-time artistic advocacy for nature, aiming to rekindle appreciation for the natural world and its mysteries. My art serves as a reminder that humans are not superior to nature, but part of its intricate web. Through my art, I invite viewers to reconsider their relationship with the environment, and to rediscover the wonder and humility that come from seeing themselves as part of the natural world.
ABOUT MARIE DANIEL
Marie Daniel is a South African artist currently based in Kigali, Rwanda. Her creative and personal journey spans multiple countries, shaped by her first departure from post-Apartheid South Africa at the age of 18. Having witnessed the injustices of the Apartheid era as a child, she committed herself to the lifelong pursuit of social justice for all.
Art has always been a passionate practice for Marie, running parallel to her academic exploration in urban studies. Her fascination with the interplay between urban spaces and human wellbeing is a recurring theme in her work. This interest is vividly reflected in her evocative depictions of “moments in time” captured in rural Rwandan villages, where she explores the subtle dynamics between people and their environments.
As part of her journey, Marie has worked for civil society organisations, advocating for the vulnerable and marginalised. These experiences deepened her understanding of the complexities of human life within urban and rural contexts, and highlighted a recurring realisation: the profound disconnection between humans and the natural world.
Marie’s work now centres on this critical relationship. She observes that modern life often positions humanity as separate from, rather than in symbiosis with, nature—leading to its disregard and destruction. In response, she has shifted her focus to full-time artistic advocacy for nature, aiming to rekindle appreciation for the natural world and its mysteries.
Her art serves as a reminder that humans are not superior to nature, but part of its intricate web. Through her art, she invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with the environment, and to rediscover the wonder and humility that come from seeing themselves as part of the natural world.
