"The Mellifera body of work draws inspiration from the landscapes of rural South Africa, celebrating resilience amidst scarcity. The earthy tones and muted greys reflect the rich soils and shifting skies, capturing the landscape's stark beauty and enduring strength. Decorative details inspired by plant adaptations highlight nature's resourcefulness, with patterns and textures symbolizing life’s ingenuity in harsh conditions. Having endured the rapid deterioration of my own body due to chronic illness has given me an appreciation for the beauty of a feverish sheen, the parched texture, and the calloused surfaces of my experience. This visceral, embodied hardship drives me to honor the hardy adaptations of the African landscape, exploring the profound connection between the land and its people—a testament to the resilience and creativity required to thrive. The name Mellifera is derived from the scientific name for a common African thorn tree, known for its sweet-smelling blossoms and association with honey (from the Latin meaning “honey-bearing” or “honey-carrying”). Through clay, I seek to convey lessons of strength, adaptability, and beauty found in the face of challenge." After six years as an activist and a contemporary art student at the University of South Australia, ceramic artist Karlien van Rooyen has now returned home to live and study medicine in South Africa. Her work is focused on creating an understanding of contemporary spirituality in the context of environmental and cultural protection. Karlien is driven by the interrelationship between maker and material along with a teaching, ‘Seeing through feeling’, by the Goolarabooloo people of the Kimberly.Karlien’s sculptures are concerned with perspectives on social and environmental sustainability. Utilizing the visceral and time-capturing qualities of clay and memory, Karlien creates stylized ‘termite-mound’ vessels. Karlien has been the recipient of the Minter Ellison Award for Female Artist with Outstanding Creative Potential, Carclew International Project Grant 2018 and was selected for a seven week ceramic residency in 2018 in Jingdezhen, China.
