Elli Wahl - I am bigger, because I know how small I am

2023

Acrylic and mixed media on stretched canvas 

45cm x 35cm x 3cm 

Elli, a Johannesburg-based artist originally from East Germany, rediscovered her artistic passion after studying Fine Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her inspiration lies in the overlooked and the macabre, particularly drawn to nature's hidden beauty. Currently, she focuses on the natural wonders of the Magaliesberg mountains and Kloofs in her paintings, drawings, and photographs. Elli creates her acrylic paintings through layered processes, coaxing rhythmic, organic shapes to evoke nature rather than mimic it. She accents these shapes with charcoal lines and occasionally incorporates drawings of skulls she's discovered, embracing the beauty in the macabre, akin to 'memento mori.' Her aim is to inspire viewers to experience wonder, pause, and a deeper form of 'seeing' that transcends the visual realm.