In the vibrant creative heart of Cape Town, artist Ginette Hendricks — affectionately known as Gigi — has carved out a deeply personal and powerful space through abstract art.
A single mother of three beautiful children, Gigi’s journey into the world of colour, texture, and expressive form was not planned. It was born from survival, healing, and the quiet courage to begin again.
A Journey of Courage
In her late thirties, while recuperating from a brutal attack, Gigi turned to painting as a form of therapy. What began as a temporary distraction slowly evolved into something much greater. The canvas became a safe space. The brush became a voice. And colour became a language when words felt insufficient.
Fifteen years later, art is no longer a distraction. It is a daily ritual. A calling. A sanctuary.
Art as a “Happy Space”
There is a saying that everyone should have a place they can call their “happy space.” For Gigi, that place exists somewhere between the first stroke of paint and the final textured layer on the canvas. When she paints, the outside world softens. Time shifts. Emotion transforms into movement. In those moments, she is completely present — grounded in creativity, freedom, and healing.
Her abstract works are bold yet deeply emotive, filled with layered textures and striking colour combinations that seem to pulse with life. Each piece tells a story without dictating one, inviting the viewer to interpret, feel, and connect in their own way.
"My art consists of acrylic mixed mainly with water to thin the paint and sometimes I use a pouring medium. I don't paint with a brush. I use a hairdryer to move the paint around the canvas. There are so many different techniques one can use. So it's a never ending learning experience."
Gigi promotes and sells her artwork using Whatsapp Business - you can contact her directly here: +27601031813 (Nunzio Recommends Supporting Upcoming Artists)
Signature Works
Among her notable pieces are:
A Splash in the Ocean (top) – A celebration of depth, movement, and the vast emotional currents we all carry within us.
Time in Space (above) – A contemplative exploration of existence, presence, and the infinite nature of experience.
Water on Fire (below) – A powerful visual metaphor for resilience and strength
These works reflect not only Gigi’s artistic style but her life journey — one of transformation, perseverance, and rediscovered joy.
From Survival to Self-Expression
What makes Gigi’s art so compelling is the authenticity behind it. Her canvases are not created for trend or approval; they are created from lived experience. The textures mirror complexity. The colour choices reflect mood and growth. The layered techniques speak to the many dimensions of healing.
Over the past decade and a half, painting has become woven into the rhythm of her everyday life. It is both grounding and liberating — a reminder that creativity can be a powerful force in reclaiming one’s story.
Gigi’s journey is proof that sometimes the most beautiful expressions emerge from the most difficult seasons. In finding her “happy space,” she has not only transformed her own life but continues to share light, depth, and emotion with everyone who encounters her work.
And in every stroke, you can feel it — this is not just art.
It is healing made visible.
