Klaré van Heerden

Klaré van Heerden (b. 1999) is a South African artist and academic. Her work seamlessly integrates art and research to explore trauma, identity, and humanity’s connection to nature. With a BA in Fine Art, and an Honours in Religious Studies from the University of Cape Town, van Heerden is now pursuing a Master’s degree, focusing on the philosophical intersections of self and violence. This academic journey continues to deepen the conceptual foundation of her artistic practice.

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van Heerden’s large-scale sculptural paintings and drawings - often crafted from wax, wire, charcoal, and natural elements like fynbos and Karoo plants - are grounded in extensive research. van Heerden is influenced by the psychoanalytic theory of ‘oceanic feeling’ and philosophical theories of the relational self. Her work delves into the intricate complexities of trauma and its profound impact on shaping identity. She explores how nature’s vast, unpredictable forces mirror the fragility and resilience of the human psyche.

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Her inspiration comes from intimate interactions with extreme landscapes, including the Pyrenees Mountains, the Mozambican coast, the Drakensberg, and the Black Forest, and the Karoo. These environments provide more than inspiration; they are conceptual spaces where boundaries dissolve, identities transform, and the human spirit is both tested and renewed.

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As an emerging researcher and artist, van Heerden’s practice offers a unique dialogue between personal experience and academic inquiry. Her work provides a platform for reflecting on resilience, displacement, and healing, inviting audiences into a space of shared contemplation. With her philosophy and violence Master’s research now underway, and with plans of a Master’s in Fine Art and a PhD in Philosophy and politics, she continues to expand the boundaries of her art, contributing to a deeper understanding of the human condition through both intellectual and creative expression.

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Her art and research continue to explore the nuances of the healing process, emphasising the importance of recognising and addressing emotional traumas. van Heerden’s creative journey stands as a testament to the transformative power of creativity and its ability to illuminate the depths of the human psyche.​​