J-BAC 2025 - Adult Top 15 Finalist - Karen de Necker - Heritage in Cloth

Artist Name: Karen de Necker

Artwork Title: Heritage in Cloth / Erfenis in Stof

Size: 9500mm x 6300mm x 4500mm

Medium: Mixed media

Inspiration for my artwork:

The nine dolls I created are more than stitched figures—they are vessels of memory, heritage, and storytelling. Each doll carries within its fabric the spirit of the women who came before us, their resilience, and the quiet beauty of traditions passed down through generations. I am deeply inspired by fabric itself—woven, quilted, embroidered, and patched—because it holds the history of hands that worked, created, and cared. Fabric is heritage in tangible form, every thread binding us to stories of family, culture, and identity. Through these nine dolls, I sought to honour that legacy, using texture, colour, and stitch as my language. They stand together as nine voices, each unique, yet connected in unity—symbolizing the strength and diversity of heritage. My hope is that those who see them will feel the richness of fabric as more than material: as memory, faith, and love woven into art.

Artist Bio:

I am an artist from Paradise Beach, Jeffreys Bay,  who finds joy in exploring many mediums, from oil painting and watercolour to pastels and mixed media. My creativity truly comes alive when combining fabric and paper with stitches, quilting, and embroidery, where textures and layers tell their own stories. My work leans more toward expressionism than realism, giving me the freedom to translate feelings and impressions into visual form rather than focusing on exact representation. Inspiration flows abundantly from the world around me—the intricate patterns in nature, the colours of the seasons, and the quiet details of daily life. I believe these designs are no coincidence, but part of the beautiful artistry of God, our Creator, whose hand shapes all that inspires me. Through my art, I hope to share glimpses of that beauty, inviting others to see the extraordinary woven into the ordinary.