Hermien van der Merwe

Fine artist Hermien van der Merwe is fascinated by Cape fynbos plants.

Living at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, Hermien is embraced by inspiration for her work. She regularly walks along the nearby mountain paths in the Table Mountain Nature Reserve, absorbing her surroundings with all her senses.

“I see buds appear, flowers open and seeds form as the seasons change. I smell the foliage and feel the mountain air against my skin. I pause at interesting leaves and cones – feeling their textures,” says Hermien.

It is in this walking, seeing, touching, breathing in… that Hermien observes the interaction between fire, drought, and rain on Cape fynbos. She is constantly exploring the parallel between the physical and the spiritual, as she engages with nature as creation.

She hopes to raise awareness for fynbos and preserve it for future generations – preferably as a living, adaptable biome but also immortalized in art.

Hermien has a degree in art teaching from the University of Stellenbosch and has been a full-time artist for more than 20 years.