Stockholms Auktionsverk is proud to present a private collection of works by artists associated with the Kuru Art Project. The collection was built during travels to the area surrounding the Kalahari Desert. The Kuru artists belong to the San people, considered one of Africa’s Indigenous populations and one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures. Living as hunter-gatherers in the Kalahari Desert of southwestern Africa, the San are renowned for their ancient rock and cave paintings, which date back thousands of years. San art carries a deep spiritual and narrative dimension. The early rock art is believed to have served shamanistic and ceremonial purposes, depicting hunting magic, trance states, and ancestral spirits. Over time, the San people have lost much of their traditional lands and have seen their culture marginalized. The Kuru Art Project, based in D’Kar in western Botswana, was founded in the 1990s as part of an effort to preserve and revitalize San culture. The artists in the project use both traditional and contemporary techniques to depict their mythology, history, and daily life. This blend of old and new makes their work both timeless and relevant. Through exhibitions, collaborations, and digital platforms, the Kuru artists have reached audiences far beyond their homeland. Their work has been shown internationally, and several members have lived and worked abroad for periods of time. This collection includes works by Thamae Setshogo, known for his abstract and symbolic pieces inspired by traditional San storytelling. It also features works by the internationally renowned Coex’ae Qgam (also known as Dada), as well as pieces by Qwaa, whose imagery is often centered around animals with clear references to early San art. You are warmly invited to explore this rich and evocative visual world.