iSpyVenus Art & Photography

04/07/2024

'Infinite Flow'

Inspired by the majestic beauty of water & the fleeting nature of flowers, ‘Infinite Flow’ is a macro photograph of a cyanotype print of hydrangea flowers.

The pressed flowers were placed on cyanotype-treated paper, sprinkled with coarse sea salt, exposed in sunshine for about 7 minutes & then placed under running water to develop. The cyanotype print was photographed through water during the developing process.

‘Infinite Flow’ was recently selected along with 24 other photographs by local photographers for an upcoming exhibition called 'The Lens' - A photographic exhibition & panel discussion curated by Susan Proctor Hume & hosted by The Gorgeous George Hotel in Cape Town.

For the exhibition, I have printed 'Infinite Flow' A1 size in archival Diasec format, which is frameless & ready to hang.
I am delighted with the quality & finish of Diasec prints & have now added them as premium print options on my website in the 'Return to Venus' collection.

The exhibition opens @ 17:00 tomorrow, Friday 5th July & the event is free to all, so if you’re in Cape Town, please come & experience this awesome exhibition celebrating the diversity of photography.

The panel discussion by leading figures in photography including Gavin Furlonger, Josie Borain, Sam Pegg, Benny Gool, Ajay Lalu & Francois Visser is this Saturday 6th July between 11:00 - 16:00.
Tickets are available on Quicket & include a harvest table lunch by Chef Kyle from Gigi restaurant @ the Gorgeous George Hotel.

Thank you to SPH Fine Art Fairs & Events & Gorgeous George for this awesome opportunity! 🙏🏽💛

13/06/2024

‘Closer’

A macro photograph of water droplets on bougainvillea flowers pressed beneath glass.

This pastel pink beauty encapsulates my passion for macro photography:
A universe of details that transforms the minuscule into the extraordinary 💘.

‘Closer’ is a limited edition of 10.
Printed in 3 sizes: 40 x 40, 55 x 55 & 70 x 70cms.
Available printed on 300gsm Hahnemühle 100% Cotton Photo Rag Paper or as an archival Diasec print (frameless & ready to hang).

Feel free to contact me if you have any queries 💐.

04/06/2024

‘Fragrant Moments’

There’s something about the heady aroma of lavender that seems to freeze time for me & evokes sensations that words can’t quite express. 💜

‘Fragrant Moments’ is the latest addition to my ‘Return to Venus’ collection - using nature as my subject & cyanotype printing solutions, inks, paints & macro photography as my mediums.

To create ‘Fragrant Moments’, I painted cyanotype solutions & coloured inks onto paper, placed lavender & coarse salt over the paper, covered with a sheet of glass & sprayed the glass with water. As I photographed the colour-changing process outdoors in sunlight, I marvelled at the infinite magic that lies in the world of macro art photography.

‘Fragrant Moments’ is a limited edition of 20 prints.
Available via my website:
https://ispyvenus.com/products/fragrant-moments

Available printed on 300gsm Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper & archival Diasec prints, in square & portrait formats, printed up to A1 size & 75 x 75cms.

Feel free to contact me for more info 🦋.

30/05/2024

Giving thanks to the lovely ladies Nina Seidel & Carolina Castilho at Suboart Magazine for featuring my work, I really appreciate it! 🙏🏽🥰
Check out their website & Instagram page to discover all the incredible artists from around the world that are celebrated & promoted through their online & print publications 💘.

Educated in analogue and digital photography, artist Virginie Harel (b.1977 in Mauritius) aims to unveil the magnificence that lies in often overlooked details that elude the naked eye. Know more a…

07/05/2024

‘Rhythmic Flow’

Dedicated to my mother Sonia & aunt Elsa - my Mauritian Queens of Colour ❤️.

Just as the Earth experiences seasons & life fluctuates through its own cycles, the creative journey flows through a multitude of rhythms & seasons.

There are periods of birthing new ideas,
Experiencing new mediums & methods,
Moments of intense productivity & creative expansion,
Followed by intervals of temporary & unpredictable pauses that feel like hovering in a state of limbo.

Often, this limbo phase terrifies me the most & makes me want to change trajectory, for fear of stagnating.

Yet, as I travel along this path,
Embracing each season & gently exploring the boundaries of my creative journey,
I am reminded of the infinite possibilities residing within one medium & the inherent purity found in the sheer joy of creation.

‘Rhythmic Flow’ is a macro photograph of a wet cyanotype print.
Instead of premixing the 2 cyanotype solutions in the traditional method, I painted them separately onto paper, adding some pink ink & gold powder.
I placed pressed leaves onto the wet paper, added coarse salt, some vinegar & water solution, flattened everything with a sheet of glass & placed the print in the sun for about half an hour, photographing throughout the exposure process.

A cosmic multi-seasonal wet cyanotype de(re)construction 🧡.

‘Rhythmic Flow’ is available in both landscape & square formats as archival paper / frameless diasec prints & is limited to 20 prints.

Feel free to contact me if you have any queries about my work. 🌞

30/04/2024

Cosmic experiments with wet cyanotypes, inks, vinegar & salt. 🪐✨💛

19/04/2024

‘Love Everlasting’

“Forever is not about time, but a state of mind where love resides.”
– Suzy Kassem

Dedicated to the Bohus family 💗.

Bougainvilleas take me back to my childhood, as they grew outside my family’s home in Sunningdale, Durban where I grew up. With their vibrant bushy blooms, they are a familiar floral feature in South Africa, adorning their surroundings with a tapestry of flamboyant pinks, lilacs & purples. Here in Cape Town where I now live, they started flowering in October last year & are still very much in bloom. Nature’s everlasting gift of colour.

‘Love Everlasting’ is a macro photograph I took last week.
Pressed bougainvillea flowers were placed on cyanotype-treated paper, sprayed with water & vinegar, placed beneath a sheet of glass & left for several minutes in sunlight. Water was also sprayed onto the glass after a few minutes of exposure.

During this exposure time, condensation often forms beneath the glass & the cyanotype-treated paper changes colour whilst reacting to the vinegar & water solution, which results in magical & unpredictable textures & colours.

I’ll be adding this new beauty to my website soon but for now, it is available directly from me & can be printed up to 70 x 70cms.
Available printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper & also as Diasec prints which are frameless & ready to hang.
Limited edition of 20 prints.

Feel free to message me if you have any queries about my work. 💛

04/04/2024

Hello Friends,

4 Of my latest Diasec photographs form part of the ‘Out The Box’ exhibition at the beautiful @ Noordhoek Art Point Gallery in Noordhoek, Cape Town.

The exhibition runs throughout the month of April & the official opening is this Saturday 6th April at 17:00.

Check out this lovely gallery & their awesome art selection if you are in the area. 💙

22/02/2024

‘Land Meets Water’

I’m appreciating the loveliness of this metal print today before it heads off to its new home in Cape Town next week to a special lady 💛.

‘Land Meets Water’ is a macro photograph of a close up of an alcohol ink painting I created several years ago & forms part of my ‘Transcendence’ collection, which is on my website:

https://ispyvenus.com/collections/transcendence

Metal prints work beautifully for this style of artwork & they are ready to hang, so they make great gifts 🥰.

Whilst spending some soulful time along the Breede River recently, I was reminded of the magic that happens in nature within the zones where land & water meet. 💚🤎💙

02/02/2024

I’m thrilled to share with you that some of my limited edition prints from my ‘Return to Venus’ collection are now available for sale at The Framer - Claremont Cape Town.

Professionally printed on 300gsm Hahnemühle 100% cotton rag paper, all prints are personally signed, individually numbered & supplied with a certificate of authenticity.

Visit The Framer at 83 Imam Haron Road in Claremont, to select an iSpyVenus print to add to your art collection & choose a bespoke frame from their superb frame selection.

Massive thanks to Kim & Stephen at The Framer for supporting my work & for this wonderful opportunity, I deeply appreciate you! 🙏🏽💚

18/01/2024

‘Renewal’

“There is in us an instinct for newness, for renewal, for a liberation of creative power. We seek to awaken in ourselves a force which really changes our lives from within. And yet the same instinct tells us that this change is a recovery of that which is deepest, most original, most personal in ourselves. To be born again is not to become somebody else, but to become ourselves.” - Thomas Merton.

Hello Friends,

‘Renewal’ is the first addition to my ‘Return to Venus’ collection this year.
It is a macro photograph of some nandina domestica / heavenly bamboo leaves from our garden, which were placed over cyanotype-treated paper, covered with non-reflective glass, sprayed with water & photographed outdoors during the cyanotype exposure process.

The non-reflective glass has a fine speckled texture to it, which is encapsulated & accentuated by the water droplets.

Through the captivating realm of macro photography, I find boundless wonder in the renewed perspectives of my subjects. With each lens capture, my eyes are reawakened to the infinite beauty of detail.

May the essence of renewal guide you gracefully through the year ahead.💚

5 Limited edition prints of ‘Renewal’ are available exclusively via Art Trader in Sea Point, Cape Town:

https://artrader.co.za/product/renewal/

🌟✨🌟