Karlien van Rooyen

Karlien van Rooyen explains the inspiration for this work: "Maritime historian have only recently discovered the untold history of pirates who operated from Sydney Cove and the Pacific in the early days of the colony. As many as 60 government-sanctioned pirates ventured as far away as the Spanish territories in South America, and seized Spanish and French ships after firing with cannons. To steal the ships, the British vessels would often approach under false colours to allow them to sneak up. Often their prey would also be flying false flags too. Under the international convention governing privateering, ships could approach under false colours but had to reveal their true identity before firing their cannons. In 1799, the first Spanish ship – which had been captured by whalers as a prize – sailed through the heads carrying pirated loot for the struggling colony."

"'The Bethlehem (Nuestra Senora de Belen)' was carrying a surprisingly useful cargo of flour, sugar and rum!" said Mr Maxworthy, who is the vice-president of the Australian Association for Maritime History (AAMH).

Van Rooyen grew up in the small town of Kommetjie at the foot of a mountain on South Africa’s Cape Point. Affronted by unrelenting ocean storms, the town was also home to a wild and diverse ecosystem. The living space in her house was adorned by an archive of natural objects – whether inherited or collected on hunting and foraging adventures, this trove of objects formed visual imprints on her imagination.