Table Mountain with Pincushions, Aristeas and Watsonias

Hermien van der Merwe

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Hermien van der Merwe finds profound fascination in the indigenous Cape Fynbos plants. Living on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, she is surrounded by the natural splendour that continually inspires her work. Her walks along the mountain paths of the Table Mountain Nature Reserve are immersive, sensory experiences, opportunities to absorb the beauty and rhythm of the natural world. As the seasons shift, Hermien van der Merwe observes the emergence of buds, the unfolding of flowers, and the formation of seeds. She breathes in the scent of the foliage, feels the mountain air against her skin, and pauses to appreciate the textures of leaves and cones. These quiet, contemplative moments feed her creative process. For Hermien van der Merwe, these walks are more than physical journeys; they are holistic explorations of sight, touch, and scent, grounded in a deep reverence for the interconnectedness of the natural and spiritual realms. She views nature as divine creation and seeks to honour that through her art. Her work explores the impact of natural forces — fire, rain, wind, and drought — on the indigenous Fynbos of the Cape. In her studio, she translates the energy of the landscape into oil paint. Colour and form flow freely onto the canvas, guided by intuition and memory rather than direct reference. She allows Fynbos to bloom in all its richness, transcending seasons and capturing imagined moments rooted in lived experience. In recent years, she has embraced a larger scale, creating expansive Fynbos landscapes designed for immersive environments. In 2025, Hermien van der Merwe initiated the project Art on the Mountain, a unique artistic undertaking on Table Mountain. Over a period of two months, she created work on-site while inviting more than 40 artists to join her for individual days of shared creativity, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and a deepened connection to the landscape. In 2021, one of Hermien van der Merwe’s paintings was selected as a backdrop for the Table Mountain Cable Car station, an artistic tribute to the enduring beauty of Cape Fynbos. Since then, several of her works have been featured as large-scale wall pieces in both the upper and lower cable stations. Hermien van der Merwe studied art teaching at the University of Stellenbosch and has worked as a fulltime artist for the past two decades. Beyond creating art, she is committed to raising awareness of the Fynbos biome and advocating for its preservation. She envisions it as a living, adaptable ecosystem—one that she honours and immortalises through her work. Hermien van der Merwe is a regular participant in The Travelling Art Gallery and is represented in Cape Town by The Artists Gallery.