The fynbos blues exhibition opening took place at Brickwall Gallery in Hopefield on Saturday 16 December.
The work exhibited was collaborative, showcasing pressed fynbos flowers and cyanotype prints by Jacques van der Westhuizen and Ronelle van Zyl.
Van der Westhuizen has been in charge of the species table at the Hopefield Fynbos Show since 2018 and has taken it on himself to press some of the rare species. Being his first attempt, he was pleasantly surprised to see the outcome, which he then decided to display at the Brickwall Gallery.
Working alongside Van Zyl, who gave her unique touch by using the cyanotype prints, resembling the pressed flowers, a collaboration was born. She started exploring with cyanotype, an alternative printing method also known as sun prints. Van Zyl said what she found fascinating about this method is that each print is unique, the exposure environment, the composition and so forth, which makes the final result so intriguing.
She said working with Van der Westhuizen was the most special experience for her and an absolute privilege. “His knowledge of, and fine feeling for, fynbos was incredibly inspiring for me to be able to capture in another medium.”
The whole process for him gave him so much joy.“I hope these flowers and their cyanotype copies will give joy to many people for many years to come.”
The work will be displayed at the Brickwall Gallery until Tuesday 16 January 2024.
