Something energetically compelling is borne when an artwork finds its space.
Heike’s focus is to mould and morph elements and material, including empty spaces & unseen potential into one authentic expression. She merges, often even juxtaposes oeuvres and spaces to make a statement.

Being an artist allows her to express her creative journey; to analyse or perhaps just process life’s experiences.  Art makes her feel connected to a creative vein; a transparent, unlimited source from which one can draw borderless creativity into this 3D world. Because nothing about Heike is simple, she explores the quietening of ego to invite a stillness in space and time for the emotion and creation to flow onto a matrix or material. She is hard working; dedicated to expanding and creating and often uses mixed media; unafraid of scrutinising and taking apart information in art forms and styles and breaking some rules to find something new to her.

She joins mondiale lectures and finds inspiration in past and present artists and styles. She journals, writes and rhymes and transforms the impressions of peoples’ expressions left on her.

This affords her insight into her position or non-position in the world and her community – perhaps a deeper understanding and acceptance of the creative passion upon which an artist cannot turn their back.

Being a ballroom dancer – emotion, movement, line and fluidity are an eternal component in her artwork. This is evident in her lino print of waving flower buds such as “Blown Away” and the “La Pied” linocut print of a dancer’s feet. She enjoys manipulating the strict lino cut by carving and shaping to present a softer visual image within the rigid line.

She grew up on Ludwig’s Rose Farm and nature, especially flora inspires her. During the years on the farm she gained experience in all aspects of roses – from colour to form to fragrance and oil, rose water distillation, rose breeding and the edible qualities of a rose. She has spoken on radio and TV shows, sharing her knowledge of creativity within the exploration of the rose.

What others say

“Absolute amazing creativity, honesty & vulnerability. The process is so beautiful to follow and then you see the final work and the alchemy has been reached. It is inspiring.”

– ODETTE REDPATH

“Thank you for creating beauty that you share with us. It is so pure and honest and delicate, but powerful.”

– EMILY VAN HEESCH-SMITH

“You make unusual associations and create new neural pathways, a pioneer and daring spirit who paves the way for others to follow.”

– LESLEY BERGERÉ

“Heike thinks outside the box. She is outside the box.”

– LYNETTE LE ROUX

“Heike has an incredible talent, juxta positioning elements that don’t commonly seem to go together, and this shows that she sees beauty in everything and can bring this into everything she does.”

– SIMONE MICHELE

Heike founded the restaurant ‘The Rose Kitchen’ in 2003 and served a menu inspired by roses. Managing her establishment, being creative with food and roses and working with her team and guests taught her many valuable life lessons. Ludwig’s Roses continues to run the restaurant and make the edible rose products.

Intrigued by the scent of the rose, she researched the medicinal qualities and experimented with distillation of petals to make rose water, used in food and on the body.

She loves communicating and sharing the versatility of the rose in her art and knowledge about fragrance, colour, purpose and the rose as a culinary wonder. She converses in 4 languages and is an inspirational speaker to groups, on radio and TV shows such as Top Billing, Via and Kyknet. It is important to her to expand and share the symbolism of the flora, its power in the kitchen, its medicinal value and its place in history and in art.