Channeling the Sabie River through charcoal and ink at Lion Sands

Each morning, Belgian-Indian artist Kiran Katara looked out across the Sabie River and found her muse. The river flowed through a landscape that seemed as still as a painting, yet as she watched, she noticed how everything shifted in continuous rhythm. She became familiar with the daily changes in light, the habits of birds, and even a century-old crocodile that returned to the same spot each dawn. “In reality, everything moves, grows, transforms, dies… We don’t see it, but we can perceive it if we look closely,” she reflected.

It was here, surrounded by the wilderness of Lion Sands Sabi Sand, that Kiran immersed herself in forty days of uninterrupted creation. Kiran’s work is rooted in drawing with charcoal, ink, and graphite, exploring transparency, fragility, and rhythm. Over the years, she has exhibited in Belgium, Germany, and India, with recent shows including Oxymores (2024), Something Beautifull (2023), and Murmuration (2021). She is also the co-founder of ODRADEK, a Brussels-based artist residency that encourages dialogue and exchange across disciplines.

The Sabie River as a cosmic body

Born in Brussels to Indian parents, Kiran carries her heritage into her art. The Sabie River inspired her to revisit the myths of Vastu Purush, a cosmic being in Indian mythology, whose body became the sacred map of the universe, forming the basis of architectural design and harmony. At Lion Sands, Kiran reimagined this figure as a woman, a body at one with the flowing water. This vision appeared regularly in the drawings she produced at Lion Sands.

For Kiran, the river became a metaphor for continuity, always moving, even when the world around it seemed motionless. It holds echoes of cosmic order and a reminder that beneath the surface of daily life runs a current that connects us all.

Lessons from the wild

Outside the studio, the wilderness gifted Kiran with daily instruction. One morning, she witnessed the ritual of a nyala parade. Instead of fighting, the males walked in exaggerated slow motion, each movement deliberate, a contest of grace rather than violence. “It was a rare elegance, a true inspiration for mindful walking,” she recalled.

On other occasions, she was struck by the trees of the bushveld. Some have lived for hundreds of years, while others rise and fall with the passing of just a few decades. To Kiran, these unmoving pillars are a picture of endurance and dignity within a landscape full of chases, hunts, and relentless change.

From crocodiles to nyalas, ancient rivers to stoic trees, the wilderness showed Kiran how rhythm and cycles shape all life. These lessons are imbued into her drawings, where tone, texture, and gesture mirror the patience and presence of the natural world.

Kiran describes her stay at Lion Sands as a gift. For the first time, she was able to devote herself solely to her art, uninterrupted. “This mid-career gift has been very precious to me,” she shared. “I have been drawing for 30 years and hope to continue for another 30.”

From the bushveld to Brussels

Kiran has since returned to Brussels, where she continues to teach her architecture students and prepares for upcoming exhibitions. Her drawings from South Africa will be presented at SAFFCA in Brussels alongside other artists who have shared in the residency experience.

Asked what message she would leave behind for the next artist to discover, she replied: “Let’s remember that we’re part of the great family of living beings, that like animals we could relearn how to live in natural balance and reconnect with our (creative) energy. The Lion Sands Artist Residency is the perfect place to contemplate this.”

Visit Kiran’s website to explore her art and exhibitions in more detail.

The Artist Residency brings artists – new and established – into a creative space where they can focus on their craft, while connecting with an appreciative audience. This space becomes their home for weeks at a time, where they can draw unparalleled inspiration from their location and wildlife sightings to create new pieces, while also showcasing their work.

Contact morgan@lionsands.com if you are interested in purchasing any artwork from our featured artists.