The story behind Ina van Zyl: Where Are You From
18 Jun 2026
In this new video, artist Ina van Zyl talks about the creation of her exhibition Where Are You From and her working process in the studio.
A title with a double meaning
She explains that she enjoys playing with words in her titles and that, for this exhibition, she deliberately chose a question without a question mark; a question without an answer. It is a question she is often asked herself because of her accent. At the same time, she finds it difficult to ask the same question of someone else, as she feels it can quickly carry a hidden judgement.
Familiar images, new meanings
Van Zyl explains that the subjects she paints are often instantly recognisable. Yet they take on a different meaning because they are shown in isolation, without context or background. This allows them to also be viewed separately from their original surroundings.
The painting process
Van Zyl usually works from a photograph, often a small and not particularly sharp fragment of a larger image. This forces her to look closely at what is happening within the forms. She describes painting itself as a remarkable process: she starts with the outlines, without immediately understanding what is happening in the image, and gradually begins to see more and more.