News from Futures Past

!Khwa ttu is proud to be part of the Futures Past project, an exciting international collaboration that brings together the French Institute of South Africa, !Khwa ttu’s Archive, and the creative team at Open Draft. Together, the partnership is working to honour the powerful story of San communities who were displaced from their homes in Angola by war, while preserving an important collection of artwork for generations to come.

At the heart of the project is the Schmidsdrift Linocut Collection, a remarkable body of work created by San artists during a time of displacement. Safeguarded in the !Khwa ttu Archive on behalf of the South African San Institute (SASI), the collection captures stories of resilience, memory, identity, and hope through art.

With the support and agreement of SASI, the Futures Past project will:

  • Digitise and preserve the linocut collection for future generations.
  • Reconnect with the original San artists and their communities.
  • Present this important history in a respectful, engaging, and educational way.
  • Create opportunities for young San people to connect with their heritage through modern immersive technology.

The project will culminate in an immersive exhibition at the !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre, inviting visitors to experience not only the realities of war and forced displacement but also the healing power of creativity, culture, and community.

As part of this international collaboration, !Khwa ttu Curator, Magdalena, recently travelled to France to participate in project workshops and planning sessions with our French partners and creative team. Her visit refined the exhibition’s creative direction and ensured that the stories represented remain authentic, respectful, and community-led.

Magdalena’s visit also highlighted the growing international recognition of !Khwa ttu’s archival work and its commitment to preserving and sharing San heritage. By working across borders, Futures Past demonstrates how museums, archives, artists, and communities can come together to safeguard cultural memory while creating meaningful experiences for future generations. We look forward to sharing more updates as this inspiring project develops and to welcoming visitors to the completed immersive exhibition at !Khwa ttu.