By the riverbed, where rushing water carries fertile sediment and light dances across multi-toned surfaces, Adele Van Heerden invites audiences into Alluvial, her latest solo exhibition at 131A Gallery in Cape Town.
Known for her evocative explorations of waterbodies and the interplay between light, natural life, and abstraction, Van Heerden expands her palette to embrace earthier tones and new symbolic terrains.
Through pastel, gouache, and aerosol on architectural film, she dissolves boundaries between human and non-human presences, weaving resilience, healing, and interconnectedness into a body of work that feels both intimate and elemental.
In this Q&A, Adele Van Heerden reflects on healing, light, and the language of rivers, offering insight into the inspirations and processes behind Alluvial.
Q1. Your exhibition is titled Alluvial. What does this name signify for you? Alluvial refers to the fertile sediment carried and deposited by rivers. For me, it’s a metaphor for time, transformation, and renewal. The riverbed becomes a stage where rushing water flushes veins of the earth, teaching us about cycles and continuity. It’s about listening to what rivers have to say.
Q2. Water and swimming recur strongly in your work. How does this connect to your personal journey? Swimming is both ceremonial and healing. After a period of physical recovery, I’ve found freedom in water again. That act of immersion is about reclaiming presence — feeling alive, full, and in harmony with the world.
Q3. You’ve expanded your palette in Alluvial. What prompted this shift? I’ve moved towards earthier tones, reflecting the soils and minerals of rivers. These colours aren’t just aesthetic; they carry the story of the water’s inhabitants and mark moments in time. It’s a way of learning the languages of new waterways.
Q4. The Clanwilliam Yellowfish features prominently. Why this subject? The Yellowfish’s resilience mirrors my own healing journey. Its habitat in the Olifants-Doring waters was restored, and years later, thriving schools of fish returned. Witnessing this recovery while hiking again has been deeply symbolic for me.
Q5. Your earlier work often engaged with coastlines. Why the move towards rivers? Rivers offer a metaphorical space rather than a fixed location. They provoke subconscious connections and symbolic reflections. Shifting inland, especially into the Cederberg mountains, has opened new ways of seeing and feeling.
Q6. You often work with pastel, gouache, and aerosol on architectural film. What draws you to this medium? Film paper allows me to explore translucency and reflection — it behaves almost like water’s own skin. It’s perfect for capturing the dazzle of light and the boundary between internal and external landscapes.
Q7. You describe light as transformative. Can you share an example? What might seem like a simple trick of light can lead to profound revelations. Specular reflections on water surfaces recalibrate my perspective, reminding me that curiosity and witness can dissolve boundaries between the real and imagined.
Q8. Alluvial introduces human and non-human bodies in water. How do they interact in your vision? They form a cast — fish, frogs, waterbirds, and human figures — all sharing the same multi-toned waters. It’s about interconnectedness, dissolving distinctions, and celebrating the fullness of being alive together.
Q9. How does being physically present in these environments influence your art? Hiking and swimming aren’t just pastimes; they’re acts of witness. Being present in restored ecosystems makes the work authentic. It’s not imagined — it’s lived, felt, and shared.
Q10. Looking ahead, where do you see your exploration of waterbodies going? I see it evolving into deeper symbolic terrains. Rivers are just one chapter — there are other landscapes and metaphors waiting. My practice is always about connection, purification, and recalibration, so I’m excited to see where the currents lead.
As Alluvial unfolds at 131A Gallery, Adele Van Heerden reminds us that rivers are more than landscapes, they are living archives of resilience, healing, and interconnectedness. Through her expanded palette and layered mediums, she dissolves boundaries between human and natural worlds, inviting audiences to witness the fullness of being alive in harmony with water.
Her journey, both personal and artistic, flows into a broader meditation on time, renewal, and the language of rivers, a current that continues to shape her practice and inspire those who encounter it.
