In ‘Artifacts’, the artist explores the insights archaeological excavations on Cape Dutch farmsteads provide into the daily lives and cultural traditions of early European colonisers in South Africa – especially between the 17th and 19th centuries. These pieces frequently feature Dutch ceramics, showcasing the colonial impact. The blue and white VOC designs and patterns are easily recognisable on these artifacts.

To honour the untold history, the artist replaces certain colonial/Dutch designs with those of the indigenous San and Khoe, symbolising union between the San and Khoe images and colonial imports in a 'historical accident.'

For the Khoe and San, I use animal images from rock paintings; the rest are influenced by Chinese imports as used by the Cape Dutch homesteads and VOC, found on the artifacts.

The artwork interpretation is a 'dual acknowledgment ' and can be seen as recognising and capturing the essence of the country's diverse heritage.

Strijdom van der Merwe is a Stellenbosch-based artist. Generally, his work is intentionally transient – fleeting gestures rather than conventional sculptures. When he focuses on more permanent installations, he does so in a way that celebrates the beauty of nature.

Among the many decorations he has received are the Jackson Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant (2022/2008) and a medal of honour from the South African Academy of Arts and Science.

Van der Merwe has completed commissioned work and residencies on invitation in 21 countries. He was a member of the curatorial panel for World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 and is a founding member of Site Specific South Africa. He co-curated the exhibition: 30 Nature Artists in the World (2015) and the Global Nomadic Art Project (2015‒2016) in South Korea.

For this installation, he collaborated with Hugh Ferguson from Future Form for the production of the artifacts, Eikebosch Electricity, and GDL Signs.