Thirza Schaap Turns Ocean Waste into ‘Fatal Flowers’ in Joburg

Dutch-South African artist Thirza Schaap returns to Johannesburg this weekend with Fatal Flowers, a one-day-only exhibition opening Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 11:00. The show at Jan Smuts Creative Hub, 223 Jan Smuts Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa, will feature her signature sculptures: hyper-realistic flowers crafted entirely from plastic waste collected from South Africa’s coastlines.

Schaap’s process is both forensic and poetic. She sources debris from beaches, then meticulously reassembles it into delicate petals and stems that mimic endangered indigenous flora. The contrast is deliberate, beauty built from pollution. Fatal Flowers asks viewers to confront marine waste while also imagining regeneration. Each piece is titled after the flower it imitates, with tags noting where the plastic was found. 

This Rosebank pop-up runs only on June 27, making it a brief but urgent intervention in the city’s winter art calendar. Schaap has exhibited internationally, but the Joburg edition ties directly to local clean-up initiatives she supports.