‘When the Sky Falls’ is a poetic and reflective installation responding to the devastating floods that continue to affect communities across South Africa. These recurring disasters, intensified by climate change, poor urban planning and social inequality result in loss, displacement and the ongoing vulnerability of those most affected.

The work transforms the everyday umbrella, a symbol of protection, into a sculptural and metaphorical object. Illuminated from within, each umbrella becomes a beacon of remembrance and resilience, paying tribute to lives lost while offering light to those who remain.

As viewers walk among the umbrellas, they are invited into a shared space of reflection and solidarity. This immersive experience transforms the act of shelter into a collective gesture of hope, urging awareness of the urgent need for climate justice, community care, and reimagined urban systems that protect rather than endanger.

Kenneth Shandu is a Durban-based contemporary artist whose practice spans drawing, printmaking, sculpture and installation. A graduate of the Durban University of Technology (2018), where he is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts, Shandu’s work focuses on the struggles and resilience of marginalised groups in post-apartheid South Africa.

His art has earned recognition as a finalist in the Sasol New Signatures Art Awards (2018, 2021) and through awards from the PPC Imaginarium Art & Design Competition.

Shandu has exhibited widely, including in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape town. He is active in the art community, and has worked as an assistant curator, teaching assistant at DUT, and as a director for the Unlearn to Learn Art organisation.

Shandu participated in Thupelo Art Workshops and recently in the New Futures Arts Collaborative Residency programme. Through his practice, he continues to challenge perceptions and amplify the narratives of marginalised communities.