Strijdom van der Merwe

Born in 1961, Strijdom van der Merwe studied art in South Africa and abroad in England, the Netherlands, as well as the Czech Republic. 

As a land artist, Strijdom van der Merwe generally uses the materials found on a chosen site. These sculptural forms take shape in relation to the landscape. It is a process of working with the natural environment/world by using what is found on site and then shaping these elements into geometrical forms until they gradually integrate with the natural environment again.
Depending on the purpose of the exhibition or the commission, Strijdom will also use materials that are brought into the landscape in order to make a statement about our relationship with the land.  In many of these works the installation is temporary and only functional for the duration of a certain event.
In his recent body of work, 'Demarcation', Strijdom van der Merwe explores the symbolism behind road markings. At first glance, his work appears to draw directly from these everyday symbols found on streets and roads. However, upon closer inspection, van der Merwe reveals a deeper narrative embedded within these marks, uncovering the layers of history, past decisions, and present guidance encapsulated within road markings.
To view the Demarcation catalogue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MObgmIkkgWzoYMIFglNSP3SYVmlV0Fl_/view
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