Farren van Wyk Explores Mixedness in Photography Series

Farren van Wyk, a Dutch photographer originally from South Africa, is currently working on her series 'Mixedness is my Mythology' (2021–), which explores her mixed heritage. She was born in 1993 in South Africa to a Dutch father and a South African mother and relocated to the Netherlands at the age of six. At the University of the Arts Utrecht, her undergraduate thesis, 'Die lewe is nie reg vir my nie' (2016–), examined post-apartheid gang culture. During the pandemic, she began creating intimate family portraits on a traditional Dutch farm, merging elements from both her cultures. Utilizing analogue black-and-white photography and drawing on her master's in visual anthropology, Van Wyk aims to challenge the historical portrayal of people of color. She is also a shortlisted candidate for the 2026 Aperture Portfolio Prize.