The exhibition Karoo Gothic: A Karoo State of Mind opened on October 25 at Melville’s Die Pienk Kerk.
The showcased works were created by 10 talented artists from across the country, including fine artist Aeiden Swan.
Swan, a full-time artist, works primarily with ink to create wildlife imagery. Her art, she said, looks beyond the animal, exploring its cultural impact, our behaviours, and what these creatures mean to us.
“I also work alongside conservation, so there is the scientific side of it. My work isn’t just art; there’s an equal side of helping these creatures, drawing attention to them, and teaching people about them and why they are so important to us.”

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For Swan, art was never a choice or a whim. As she puts it, you either art or you don’t – there’s nothing in between. She’s been drawing and painting since before she could talk or even walk. There was a point in her life when she tried not to be an artist, spending two decades in the fashion industry. But something always pulled her back. Eight years ago, she responded to that urge, closed down her company, and returned to art.
She described her experience of exhibiting at Karoo Gothic as deeply special, and her excitement grew even more after seeing the lineup of participating artists.
“It is so hard to find your tribe, people whose work just speaks to you. This is a group of the most astounding artists who are all completely different, but there’s something that links us.”

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To Swan, art has the power to connect communities. It’s not some pretentious thing confined to galleries. She believes everyone creates art in their own way, even through things not traditionally considered art.
“So it is something human. It is something that links every single person and makes communities stronger.”

Swan lived in the City of Gold for 20 years before relocating to the Mother City. She finds Melville hard to define, saying she can’t quite put her finger on the suburb.
“This community is different and kind of grubby-bohemian, but in a good way,” she said, adding that it’s not a polished, gentrified neighbourhood, but something real. “No matter what incarnation it’s going through, it’s raw, and that’s what makes it special.”

It’s a quality she sees reflected in her own work.
“I try to keep my work as real as possible. Though my work is quite polished, it still has its feet in the dirt.”

Swan encourages people to visit the exhibition, which features the work of 10 incredible and distinctly different artists.
“It’s not what you usually expect to see. This is art that doesn’t usually get to be in the gallery. No matter what you like, you’ll find something that speaks to you.”

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