She became the earth and the cure

She became the earth and the cureMandisa MhlangaMy artwork is a tribute to Wangari Maathai and Henrietta Lacks — two women who gave life to the world in ways that can never be measured. I chose to draw a large, powerful tree to represent Wangari, whose Green Belt Movement helped forests, women, and communities grow stronger. Beneath the ground, the roots are formed from Henrietta Lacks’s immortal HeLa cells, showing how her story continues to give life through science and healing. Together, the tree and its roots reflect how both women’s legacies are deeply connected — one nurtures the earth, while the other nurtures humanity.This piece was inspired by the idea that true heroes are not always seen. Wangari planted seeds that became forests, and Henrietta’s cells multiplied unseen in labs across the world — yet both created something eternal. Their courage and sacrifice remind me that even the smallest act, or the quietest life, can grow into something that changes the world.

Through my art, I wanted to show that life itself — whether in nature or in science — is rooted in the love, strength, and resilience of women who give without expecting anything in return. The white empty space in my artwork holds special meaning. It symbolizes the gaps in recognition, memory, and justice that often exist in stories like Wangari’s and Henrietta’s. For Wangari, it is the silence that once surrounded her struggle and the forests lost to ignorance.

For Henrietta, it is the unknown — the identity and legacy denied to her for so long, as well as the many voices in the history of science that go unacknowledged. The emptiness reminds us that even when women’s contributions are unseen or erased, they continue to shape the world in profound and lasting ways. By leaving space unfilled, I invite viewers to reflect on what has been forgotten or overlooked, and to honor those whose impact can never be fully captured or confined.