Umkhonyovu (Mkhovu) [Zombi]

Strauss & Co presents works from our exhibition Dreaming Impossible Things on view at the Alliance Française du Cap as part of the 2026 Heat Winter Arts Festival in Cape Town. This year’s theme, Ctrl + Z, calls us to reflect on the notion of undoing. It reminds us that while we can instantly undo our actions in the digital realm through the handy shortcut, in reality, repairing the damage of systems like colonialism, racism, patriarchy and capitalism is a far more complex endeavour.

We have selected works from our August Online Sale (27 July – 17 August) that explore the devastating effects of our fractured relationship with the land. We have also included artworks that imagine how we might better honour the Earth's resources and restore our sense of belonging within it. The title of the exhibition is taken from that of Carol-Anne Gainer’s triptych, which is a key work in the show. The title acknowledges how we still grasp towards healing and restitution despite the seeming impossibility of ‘undoing’ the destruction caused by oppression and unsustainable means of production.

Highlighting a few works, Christine Dixie’s prints evoke the cautionary tale of the fall of Adam and Eve, becoming etched reminders of the devastating paths that greed and deception can lead us down. Walter Battiss’ Marabaraba is alluring in its bright colours and dynamic patterns. However, the screenprint calls to mind how the desire for domination impacts our relationship with nature through referencing a traditional board game won through strategies of capture. Works by Raymond Fuyana and Judy Woodborne speak to the devastation of the physical landscape, while Husan and Husain Essop recall the loss of land. The Essop brothers highlight the importance of intangible heritage as they embody ancestors who look over what once was the vibrant community of District Six.

Greatjoy Ndlovu’s Optimism in Yellow reflects the need to embrace hope as we advocate for more sustainable and restorative ways of living. With this, Rain Battiss, Clifford Mpai and Raymond Andrews’ fertile landscapes help us envision the abundance that might await us in liberated and equitable futures.