Faculty of Design

Illustration

Aimee Xiao

Springbok Herbalist

“Springbok Herbalist” explores herbalism in South Africa. A Springbok familiar practices as an Inyanga and channels a ball of light made up of a combination of South African herbs between her antelope horns to cook over the cauldron. She wears white, blue and pink beadings of the indigenous Zulu people, respectively representing purity, faithfulness and promise.

“This is a part of my thesis series Unfamiliar Familiars, which imagines and considers the presence and energy of national animals as familiars that assist witches in magic for good and selfless purposes. More illustrations can be viewed on my website!”