Interview with Lené Ehlers

Lené, we met you in early 2023 when we hosted your first solo exhibition in our old Voorkamer on Church Street. What do you remember about that time?
Oh my gosh! That was such an exciting whirlwind time! I remember I was very new to the art scene, I just started doing art full time. The gallery I exhibited with a few times just closed and I was looking for a new home for my art but also a gallery I could build a relationship with. The typical white galleries didn’t appeal to me at all and then I found Chandler House! I remember being so excited by the warmth and atmosphere of you, Michael, and of the space you created.

How would you say your work has changed since then?
My work was more experimental then. Now it has a grounded feeling, which happens when you establish your style. Another big change is I used to work with water based paints on paper and now I work exclusively with oil paint on canvas.

I know you started to spend a lot of time with Manina Baumann, the Suzani Queen after your first show. And then you moved into a studio apartment below her beautiful home. How did the time with her, and her collection of textiles, affect the work you made?
I actually can’t put in words the effect the Suzani’s has had on me. When I first encountered them, I realised this is what I have been looking for. Before having seen them in person, I would search on Pinterest for patterns to inspire me but none of them had that feeling I was looking for. When Manina showed me her collection, their mysticism captured me. Being surrounded by them all the time is deeply infused in my heart and art. Manina, their keeper is just as magical. I found a beautiful soul connection with her. I remember while I was living there, at the end of the day we would meet for a glass of red wine on the stoep and chat about art, beauty, relationships and travelling. I learned so much from her and it was so special to find someone I resonated with so deeply, especially on the topics of art and beauty. For a young artist, this is invaluable. That time with her and the Suzani’s was formative to my sense of what it means to live a creative life.

And last year, you moved to the Paarl. What drew you away from Cape Town and into the Paarl Valley?
I actually didn’t intentionally choose Paarl. I could feel my time in my studio apartment under Table Mountain was coming to an end and I was looking for a new apartment in Cape Town. Nothing came up that excited me so I looked a little further. The perfect little house in Paarl became available and that was it!

What do you miss most about Cape Town?
I didn’t realise how much I would miss the sea and prom walks! There is also a distinct energy around Table Mountain that I miss.

What do you enjoy most about Paarl?
It has a small town and innocent energy that is so refreshing. Life seems uncomplicated here.