Barnard Gilliland’s debut poetry collection, Veelhoek, was published shortly after his death 60 years ago, his promising creativity cut short at the age of 24. Jana Cilliers, his cousin, embarks on her first journey into writing by engaging with his work Skipbreukelinge with the refrain “en waar ek my voet wil sit, is water”. In counterpoint, Gilliland’s raw, surprisingly still fresh cry in search of the meaning of life and Cilliers’ examination as an ageing actress of the acceptance and willingness to stop living, form a poignant conversation about man’s multifaceted existence that takes place across time, connecting through bloodlines. Jana Cilliers and Ludwig Binge were both nominated for Kanna Awards at KKNK 2024.
