The act of praying with your head down is something a lot of people do consciously and unconsciously. For Simon it is a conscious act to pray with his face looking up to his ancestors and God. Therefore, Face Up is that act of always looking up and never down. The stone on top is a symbol of the burden that when praying we carry the burden that we ask them for help with.

In this sculpture, Simon has cast Sibongile’s face and torso in bronze and used Belfast granite from Mpumalanga, the area from which he comes for the load that she carries on her head. Sibongile is presented with grace and pride despite the heavy load that represents the enormous hardships and challenges that woman face in Africa on a daily basis.