Rust-en-Vrede Gallery

Blom Waar jy Geplant is

Hermien van der Merwe

Dates: 19.08.2014 – 11.09.2014

“I find my inspiration in the indigenous Fynbos flora of the Cape biosphere and Fynbos flowers form a golden thread through my work. Fynbos flowers are such understated, beautiful and strong flowers. They are proudly South African – as I am also proud to be South African. After all, we humans too have to flower where we are sown and I am deeply rooted in Durbanville.

Fynbos seeds need to be scorched by natural fires from time to time to produce a better flower in the next year. To me to flower means to grow to one’s full potential, to become beautiful, to be fruitful.

I often use portraits of women in my drawings. The media I use strengthen the theme of my artworks:
Charcoal is burnt wood. Used as a drawing medium, this links with the theme of the scorching that the Fynbos flowers needs to go through to produce a better bloom. I also draw with flammable glue and ignite this on my paper or canvas. This creates beautiful smoky stains and links with the fire theme in my Fynbos work.

For the flower Chandeliers, I used Linen over a wire structure. Every petal is painstakingly crafted by hand. The light from within, symbolizes hope for the world.”

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