The more we recognise the symbols we share, the more we can appreciate what unites us.
From the moment she first picked up a crayon, Vanessa van Wyk knew she was an artist. Her creative journey has taken her through sculpture, murals, wood carving and interior design, before leading her to the colourful, symbolic paintings she creates today.
Inspired by sacred geometry, music and the universal symbols that connect cultures across the world, Vanessa’s work invites viewers to slow down, look closer and discover the bigger picture. As our latest Artist in Residence, we caught up with Vanessa to learn more about her artistic journey, what inspires her work and the messages she hopes her paintings leave behind.
LSA: You became an artist the first time you picked up a crayon. Do you remember what you loved drawing as a child?
I still have the drawing that I drew! It was of a desert scene – a Mexican man wearing a sombrero, white trousers, a white top and open sandals, standing between two cacti while playing a guitar!
LSA: Your career has taken you from interior design to murals and now to canvas. Looking back, was there a moment when you realised painting was where you truly belonged?
I don’t think I truly belong in any one medium, as I have dabbled in sculpture, wood carving, pencil drawing and murals. It’s been more a matter of time and opportunity, and I look forward to producing new pieces in all of these mediums.
LSA: Your work explores line, colour and sacred geometry. What first sparked your fascination with mandalas and cymatics?
My interest was sparked by watching a Gaia Network programme about the connections between vibration (Hertz), geometry, music and colour.
I had been recovering from a kidney transplant in 2016 and had the luxury of time to research all the wondrous information surrounding these elements.
LSA: If someone stood in front of one of your paintings for five minutes, what do you hope they would notice?
I hope the viewer notices that there are a lot of details that need looking at, moving around the design before finally stepping back to see them all together as a whole.
I hope they understand that, just like the design, we are all a small part of a much bigger whole – Earth – and are meant to be seen as one coherent, beautiful design.
LSA: Your work is full of symbols from different cultures. How do you approach incorporating these respectfully while celebrating what connects us all?
As I grew up in Apartheid South Africa, I understand completely the devastating role racism plays in destroying communities and cultures. As a young adult, I was able to vote in the election that freed Nelson Mandela, and that became the foundation of my mindset: to connect cultures, eliminate racism and the sense of ‘otherness’ that people often gravitate towards, and incorporate that message into my art.
Through my research into symbols from different cultures, I’ve discovered that many ancient societies shared similar symbols. Although they have different names, they often communicate the same ideas through myths and stories that have been passed down through generations. I believe these shared symbols are part of a larger human story, and the more we recognise their common messages, the more we can appreciate what unites us.
LSA: Motherhood shifted your creative direction. Has becoming an artist again changed the way you see yourself?
I knew I was always an artist from a very young age and felt a deep desire to share something with the world through this talent.
It has been a long journey to discover exactly what I wanted to express, and I feel I’ve now reached a point in my life where I can show the world what an amazing race we all are – human beings learning to simply be human.
LSA: If one colour had to represent your personality, which would it be and why?
It would most definitely be turquoise.
It’s an ancient stone and colour used by many cultures to symbolise that we are all one. It is also the colour of the throat chakra, representing expression.
LSA: Imagine you could create a mural anywhere in the world with no limits… where would it be?
That sounds fabulous!
It would be a collection of universal symbols from cultures around the world, painted onto a rock face in a nature reserve so that people could discover it in nature and reconnect with the understanding that they are part of something much larger than themselves.
LSA: What’s something people would be surprised to learn about your creative process?
I spend a lot of time gathering reference material before allowing myself to relax and start sketching. I let go of the outcome, trusting that whatever appears will be balanced and carry its own message.
LSA: Coffee, tea, silence, music… or complete chaos? What does your ideal studio day look like?
Music is an integral part of my painting, and I often choose music to match what I want to create.
My studio is full of light and probably looks a little messy to everyone else, but I know exactly where everything is. I also like to know that all the household chores are done first, so I can fully relax and be present with my art.
And probably a bowl of salty crisps and a cup of tea… perfect!