My friend Johannes says that it is considered fortunate to have an Oak Tree at the entrance to your home.

I do not know the name of the man who has lived in this tree for as long as I have driven along this leafy road, Observatory Curve in Johannesburg. Must be nearly 20 years now.

This morning, I went to visit to see if I could meet him. There was a warm smell of a small fire burning inside and I have seen smoke pouring out of the top of the house in winter. Though there was none today.

I called out and he replied but he didn’t open the door.

Actually there was no door that I could see. Or even a window. I said I wanted to take photographs and he said something I could not hear but he still did not appear. I have seen him once or twice when driving past and he looks like he is part of the tree. An oak.

When you go there, you get a real sense of sanctuary. Home.

Author

  • Lesley Perkes writes about the state of imagination, her general loss of respect for politics and big business with too few exceptions, eyesores, aesthetically pleasing moments of bliss. Every now and then she writes too about grave matters some people think are best kept to yourself. She does not. Err. Obviously. Sometimes she writes about the silencing and the wars. MsChief at artatwork, a public arts action dis-organisation based in Johannesburg, Lesley is also #lesfolies at The Troyeville Bedtime Story, a timeless legend and neighbourgood adventure, in happy collaboration with Johannes Dreyer, photographer and artist. Writer, curator, producer and general artist with performative tendencies, in February this year Lesley spoke at TED2013 in Los Angeles. It was a life experience of note. She uses her time to fund, or find funding and resources to produce artwork and advocate for make-believe.

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Lesley Perkes

Lesley Perkes writes about the state of imagination, her general loss of respect for politics and big business with too few exceptions, eyesores, aesthetically pleasing moments of bliss. Every now and...

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