A Letter From Megan Dicks...

News
On a recent journey through South Africa and Uganda, Otomys Co-Director Megan Dicks was struck by perspective, from the vantage of the sky, the landscape unfolded as an interconnected tapestry. On the ground she observed communities in which human connection outweighed material abundance.
 
This blog serves as a personal letter from Megan, sharing the reflections her journey inspired.
March 24, 2026
  • I’ve just returned from journey through South Africa and Uganda.
     
    Often, after time away, I write a blog or newsletter with a more predictable list of highlights and recommendations of places to go and exciting galleries to visit. This year I feel differently!
     
    This time travel hasn’t simply been a break from work; more than ever, I have found a fresh recalibration of my mind’s eye.
    From the window of a plane, the perspective is humbling ... the fast pace of my daily life dissolves. Up above the clouds, the individual vanishes and we become a collective of busy ants, often scurrying about at speed. It’s a gentle reminder that we are in fact a very small part of a larger, dynamic ecosystem!
     
    Then, there is the view from the ground ...
     
    In many of the communities I visited, particularly in Uganda, I met people who owned very little yet they smiled with a frequency which the western world may have traded for a long list of … ‘things’.
     
    Would it be fair to say that we have become heavy with possessions but often light on more meaningful human connection? If like me, your answer is yes possibly, then this is why art matters more than ever..
     
    Art is a primary vehicle for sharing emotion and narrative. It is as fundamental as human interaction itself. In a world that is increasingly tech-driven and automated, art is the 'base level' where we are reminded of our shared humanity. It is how we navigate life’s constant rhythms and make sense of the 'ant-like' busyness of our lives.
     
    The crux of Otomys art gallery is about fostering a truly global artistic exchange, it’s the connection between the aerial view and the grounded heart. So this year the Otomys team is back to work with a broader perspective and a renewed mission to ensure that the narratives we share in the gallery serve as a catalyst for genuine connection. What we’re looking forward to next...
     
    Deepening our Narrative. We are curating upcoming collections that continue to move beyond the aesthetic and dive straight into the humanness of art.
     
    Global Dialogue. Continuing to foster a truly global artistic exchange, working alongside our artists from Australia, Africa and Europe to ensure our collectors remain captivated and inspired by the artistic narratives.
     
    Accessibility. Ensuring that the essence of what our artists express is heard, felt and enjoyed, artists are the essential creative thinkers of our community.