Kali van der Merwe
About Kali van der Merwe
Kali is a photographic artist painting with light. Her technique employs long exposures, often using the night as her darkroom.Kali additionally works across disciplines, including experimental filmmaking and soundscape design as means of expression. Her most recent foray is taxidermy installation, incorporating the specimens she photographs. Kali sees herself as a visual advocate on behalf of fragile and threatened wild animals and plants.Kali holds a Fine Art degree with distinction, majoring in sculpture from the University of Cape Town. Post formal study, she sojourned in Berlin “the capital of re-invention”. Returning to South Africa with an interest in filmmaking, she began a career as a documentary filmmaker. Her work combined social issue filmmaking with creative social development and her collaborative documentaries won multiple best film and jury awards at local and international film festivals.After a successful 15 year film career, Kali followed a strong impulse to return to personal creativity in an intimate way. Seven years ago, a series of awakenings made it no longer possible to live in the bustle of the city. She found creative refuge in the vicinity of the quirky village Baardskeerdersbos of the Overberg in the Western Cape, South Africa where she currently resides today.
Professional roles: Curator, Photographer, Videographer
Location: South Africa