This October, in recognition of Mental Health Month, Our Cape Town Heritage (OCTH) presents The Siege and the Sanctuary, an exhibition exploring mental health through two lenses: the siege, an internal attack on the mind, and the sanctuary, the quiet discipline of recovery.

Alfred Kitsi gives form to the siege through haunting horror and surrealist imagery, while Jaden Wells embodies the sanctuary through repetitive, labour-intensive processes using everyday materials, reflecting the mindfulness at the heart of healing.

The exhibition is accompanied by research from OCTH, tracing historical cycles of horror and surveillance faced by marginalised communities in South Africa in relation to mental health. This research connects contemporary experiences of personal healing with histories of community resilience and recovery. Learn more at https://ourcapetownheritage.org/mental-health-

Presented by OCTH, a Cape Town-based NPO dedicated to preserving Cape heritage and culture through visual arts and education, The Siege and the Sanctuary is hosted at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation in Cape Town. The exhibition honours stories of community and connection, using creative expression to reclaim and celebrate heritage.

Join OCTH this October as they hold space for both the struggle and the strength it takes to heal.

A walkabout will take place on Saturday, 10 October 2026 at 12pm, marking World Mental Health Day. Tickets can be booked via the Quicket link provided.