IKaggen

Pistorius, Wilma

About the work

IKaggen is a piece about ease and lightness, and also about mischief.  It is named after a folk hero and creator god from the cosmology of the IXam people of Southern Africa. He is a trickster god who can shape-shift, usually taking the form of a praying mantis.

The piece is not a programmatic representation of this folklorist deity.  Rather, it is inspired by what the character represents (for me): the feeling of humour and lightness that sometimes arises when we embrace the unknown, the way this ease and freedom creates space for mischief and playfulness, and an appreciation for the beauty of ordinary things.

Technically it is a piece about the fun of playing together and the beauty of imperfection.