The Sanctuary is a translation of the artist’s emotional landscape, rendered through drawing. Imagined as a living entity, it is both responsive and fragile, revealing the moments where protection gives way to vulnerability.

An underlying ache is present throughout the work, paired with a quiet persistence toward healing. This body of work invites reflection, functioning as both mirror and exchange between viewer, artwork and artist. The figures present in the works are in poses of physical turmoil, reinforcing that this series acts as a confession for the artist: this space has not always been a refuge. It carries the imprint of shame and self-destruction, alongside visible traces of fracture and recovery.

The drawings hold their ground with a raw, uncensored immediacy. The figures do not conceal their vulnerability; instead, they expose lived experience in states of tension, release and transformation.

The Sanctuary is a judgement-free space shaped by resilience, a process Shonnie has developed to both understand herself and to be understood.

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Opening event: Thursday 4 June 6 – 8 pm
Artist in conversation: Thursday 4 June 5.30 pm