White River art exhibition depicts a toxic-free garden of healing and growth

The exhibition ‘Place of Belonging’ by Lowveld artist Griet van der Meulen opened at the White River Gallery on June 15.

Van der Meulen works from an eco-feminist perspective with her direct environment and focuses on gardens. Her works largely focus on the healing aspects of gardens.

She considers herself to be a custodian, primarily of a beautiful garden in the small and picturesque village of Graskop. The garden was inherited from her mother and has always been her refuge.

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“This is where I exist and is a metaphor for our stewardship of the world. It is a place of belonging, a place that I can tend and nurture as a microcosm of how we should be cherishing our Earth. My desire is to heal our planet by facilitating the healing of ourselves as well as the universe. Through my garden, my aim is to create a place of belonging, a place free of judgements where growth and belonging are encouraged,” she said.

Van der Meulen establishes a link between her own garden and the Garden of Eden, in which no harm can be done to the environment and all who live and exist within. The artist is a magical gardener who creates gardens of phantasmagorical beauty and healing.

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She told Lowvelder that her craft addresses issues of climate change and planetary healing through the exorcising of toxicity on a personal as well as universal level. Her paintings consist of Born into Nature mixed media, collage, oil paint and wax encaustic.

Numerous locals attended the art exhibition’s opening and enjoyed the beauty of the various pieces. The exhibition will run at the White River Gallery until July 15, from Mondays to Fridays from 10:00 to 16:00, and weekends and public holidays from 10:00 to 14:00.

For further information or to request an exhibition catalogue, contact Dana McFarlane on 082 784 6695.