Art & Aid Project Namibia

In the middle of the vastness of Namibia, in the Kalahari Desert, lives the indigenous San people. Their ancient traditions and cultural wealth are unique and worth protecting. In this context, Markus Friesacher, the owner of Gmundner Keramik, launched a special project in 2022. It combines social support with the preservation of indigenous culture and art. The collaboration between the San and Gmundner Keramik takes centre stage, bringing indigenous motifs into a new, artistic form.

In several workshops in the Kalahari, San artists from the Donkerbos and Drimiopsis settlements created a series of designs on paper. These were then selected and brought to perfection on site using original Gmundner Keramik colours.

Each handmade ceramic piece of the SAN edition by Gmundner Keramik is an expression of cultural appreciation and shows how art can act as a medium of understanding and support. At the same time, the social dimension remains in the foreground: the San benefit from the proceeds and are given the opportunity to sustainably secure their culture. ‘Ceramics of the San’ is therefore more than just a symbol of artistic exchange – it embodies the power to give hope and keep traditions alive.