Regopstaan Kruiper, also known as Vetkat (or Longlife Together to the locals), is the youngest son of the late Ou Regopstaan Kruiper. He was born at Twee Rivieren, a rest camp in the then Kalahari Gemsbok Park. The Kruipers are from the ¹Khomani Bushmen, who live in the Southern Kalahari, close to the National Park. Vetkat’s father was a versatile artist/craftsman, medicine man, and a well-respected individual with many other skills and talents.
Like his father, Vetkat has many artistic and other talents, including music, but his main passion is the veld and animals. Vetkat lives on a farm called ‘Blinkwater’, situated just outside the park now known as the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Over the past two years Vetkat Kruiper has become known as a fine artist; ‘fine’ here referring to his being a natural and fine worker. Important to note is that he has had absolutely no formal training. Interesting, too, is that his ‘studio’ is out in the open. This is where his inspiration is at its best: in the peaceful surroundings of a red sand dune on a farm called Blinkwater in the Kalahari.
With regard to size, type of medium or detail, Vetkat’s art cannot, and should not, be evaluated in terms of any current ‘norms’; its uniqueness is what sets it apart. 

Both Vetkat and his wife Belinda enjoy interacting with people of all cultures and religions. Vetkat expressed the dream to have, as they say in the desert, all “14” in place, meaning a workshop with various mediums, and to support his wife in her dream to openly embrace and support the African Renaissance dream. Belinda’s poetry writing has been inspired not only by her husband and his art, but, like Vetkat, by the Kalahari desert, its people and their deep spiritual beliefs.

Vetkat is a living heritage, a living “sacred site” and a rock of art; but he also reflects art of rock. What we have is a Bushman balancing old and new, totally guided through spirit, by God. He is a naturalist exuding music, poetry, composition, painting, sculpting, animals, hunting and old stories. Although he is a well kept secret, he is not at all shy to embrace with respect all people who come to meet him. His art is sacred, each one a piece of rock to be take away. It reflects solidarity and love. It is both simple and intricate, both real and unreal, male and female in spirit, guided by one’s own emotions when one looks at it. It speaks to all.