Art is about more than technical skill. Its true power lies in its ability to make us feel, question and see the world differently.

At a time when headlines are often dominated by conflict and uncertainty, five North Coast artists are using their creativity to offer a different perspective – one of beauty, life and hope.

That spirit was on display at Fika restaurant in Sheffield Beach last Friday, at Life by the Sea, an exhibition celebrating the places and people that make our home, and our continent, worth celebrating.

Held at Zululami Luxury Coastal Estate, the exhibition featured a mix of pottery, painting and photography, by Rebecca Katherine Rose, Linka Rasmussen, Leigh Bisset, Karl Liebenberg and Kathryn Rademeyer.

Among the pieces on display was Sawubona. The title, meaning ‘Hello/I see you’, reflects her belief that Africa should be celebrated for its richness rather than defined by poverty, corruption and hardship.

Featuring yellow bananas, the painting challenges the perception of Africa as a troubled or impoverished continent. For Rasmussen, true wealth is not measured in money, but in the joy, family and community that make Africa so rich.

The inspiration came during a time of prayer and reflection on God’s love for the continent. Bananas, a staple food across much of Africa and a fruit that can easily spoil, became a symbol of her conviction that Africa is anything but spoiled.

“It is the blessed continent,” she said.

Rasmussen hopes the painting will encourage people to look beyond Africa’s challenges and recognise the extraordinary richness of the place they call home.

Fellow artist Leigh Bisset explored similar themes of faith and hope in Clothed in Light, the beginning of a series of female portraits celebrating strength, identity and resilience.

“There’s so much chaos in our world, so much misinformation and a bombardment of stimulation and things that pull us in so many directions, which is why we need to be covered in gold, and the gold for me is the light of God,” said Bisset.

Together, the five artists offered different perspectives on coastal life, united by a desire to create work that inspires.