Certain events leave deep marks on our lives and work. For artists, these moments often become a source of inspiration, filled with emotion and meaning.

The sudden death of my friend, James van Niekerk, is one such event. A loss that shook me to my core and became the inspiration for this sculpture.

James was a strong, fit man in his early 30s. Our friendship was forged through our shared passion for the martial art of jiu-jitsu. On the mat, he was impressive—powerful, driven, and unyielding. But off the mat, he was gentle, caring, and exceptionally kind.

His unexpected passing was unfathomable. How could someone so strong and full of life prove to be so vulnerable? The contrast between his physical strength and the fragility of life left me overwhelmed with grief.

What I have now are memories of James. Precious, yet fleeting. Memories that, like all things, will eventually fade with time.

This sculpture is my way of remembering James. An attempt to hold on to the essence of who he was: his strength, his kindness, and the delicate fragility of existence.

James lives on in this work.