About — Elodie Burls

I work with dye-based inks and bleach on resin-coated paper — a process that wasn't invented so much as discovered.

Origins & Background

A journey through silent spaces and tactile surfaces.

Based between Cape Town and the Elgin Valley, she came to painting after two decades as an entrepreneur, and found in these materials something that resisted her: a mark that spreads before you’ve decided where it’s going, a bleach line that can’t be undone. Her work sits at the intersection of ancestry, landscape, and the irreversible.

Her work has been exhibited and acquired internationally.

The Philosophy

“My mantra: soft, strong, grieving, alive”

Materials & Process

Studio Practice

Alchemy & Reaction

The foundation of each piece lies in the volatile interaction between dye-based inks and bleach on resin-coated paper. This experimental technique, developed through years of studio exploration, transforms the paper from a passive surface into a reactive field where chemicals collide to reveal unexpected textures and tones.

Environmental Imprint

Deeply influenced by the shifting seasons and architectural lines of the Elgin Valley, the work acts as a dialogue between the interior studio space and the world outside. The natural light and changing mountain vistas inform the palette and structure, grounding each abstract form in the specific geography of home.

The Act of Excavation

Guided by the philosophy of Sumi-e and East Asian mark-making, the process is one of intuitive discovery rather than rigid planning. Starting with a deluge of water and ink, the artist listens to the flow of the materials to "excavate" a story, allowing the final image to emerge through a balance of intentional gesture and organic stillness.

99 Loop Gallery, Cape Town

Enquire for Commissions & Acquisitions

For all enquiries regarding available works, studio visits, or specialized commissions, please reach out directly or via our partner galleries.