The acclaimed artist, Corné van Eck, has become known for transforming landscape photographs taken by her, into multimedia collages. Mindscapes are created by elaborating or focusing attention on portions of a specific landscape. Oils, combined with beeswax, bitumen, grass, bark and soil translates South African images into works of art. These diverse media are processed in such a way that, together, they serve the composition as a whole.

Corné believes that nature is the ideal environment for reflection and that she experiences an elevated sense of spiritual consciousness when turning to nature for inspiration. “When I seek a composition to photograph, I attempt to become part of the surroundings by contemplating the atmosphere that the landscape generates. The time of day, shades of light and textures, play a central role.”

The paintings created as a result of this, reflect a South African scenery in all its moods : tranquil, majestic, austere and robust. “I am moved by the lands vastness, it’s mountains, rock formations and open skies.”

Through these works Corné attempts to portray the scenes as sacred places. This, in itself, has symbolic value and can be seen as an expression of desolate land detached from society. “I endeavour to distance myself from the destructive influence that society’s worldliness has on spirituality in general. Thus the absolute absence of modern civilization in my work”

Recent works by the artist include interpretations of ruins. This reflects her desire to revisit forgotten places. Also new, are her portrayals of the devastating effects that Anthrax recently caused on their family farm in the Northern Cape. The death of more than 700 game as a result of the pandemic, affected the artist deeply.

Inspired mainly by the French Impressionist, Monet and Post-Impressionist, Van Gogh, Corné strives to capture the instant of light spreading over everything. Her work is also influenced by German artists Anselm Kiefer and Gustav Klimt.

Corné van Eck was born in Pretoria in 1963. She matriculated at Windhoek High School and then studied Art (BA..Ed Art) at The University of Pretoria from 1982 to1986. She commenced her teaching career at Gobabis and then moved to Windhoek where she was appointed at the University of Namibia in the Didactical Department for student teachers. She also taught art to children at the Academy of Namibia. In 1989 she moved to Pretoria where she taught art at Hercules High School for several years. She opened her own Art Studio - The Gables Art Studio - in 1994 in Colbyn. She presently gives art classes to all age groups in drawing and painting. Her students have an annual art exhibition where they expose their artwork. Corné has participated in numerous group exhibitions and a number of solo exhibitions.

Invitation