A Work Of Art | Willie Van Wyk
A Masterpiece
Willie van Wyk, owner of Bellini Gallery and Cappuccino Bar in Hermanus was born in Boksburg and spent 14 years living abroad, and travelling across Europe. Willie always knew he wanted to come back to South Africa as his partner and him visited often, and during their holidays to the country they always found themselves drawn to Hermanus. Upon their decision to leave Europe they knew that there was only one place that would win them over… Dear old Hermanus, with its powerful magnetism.
See what this local had to say to us…
Describe yourself in 3 words
Ask someone else….
My three favourite things in the world are…
Coffee, music and art.
What made you decide to open Bellini?
I used to be a performing artist and was always surrounded by great art. With so many artists living here in Hermanus and the Western Cape, a Gallery was the perfect thing to start up… to showcase these artists…
If you are not in the gallery what are you doing?
Ek is ‘n regte huis muis…. I love cooking, listening to my favorite music and being home with my dog, Tina.
The best part of owning Bellini is?
You always meet new, crazy artists….
My favourite artist is… Why?
I have a thousand favourites, to mention a few – Gustav Klimt, Lionel Feininger and every new piece of art that comes into the gallery. I have a lot of respect for artists, I can’t even draw a stick-man.
Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be…
Hermanus is…
A very special place to be, it has everything one could wish for.
I love Hermanus in the…
Whale season, aren’t they just the greatest mammals alive?
My favourite place in Hermanus is…
There are too many great spots in this town of ours to mention only one…. Great beaches, majestic mountains and valleys with wine farms, two lagoons, enough good restaurants and coffee shops. It is the special people who reside here alongside with the “swallows” that makes it my favorite place.
I wish I knew then what I do now about…
I cannot answer this, as life is one big learning curve…
My best memories are…
My darling mother who passed away 8 years ago. Everything I know, I learned from her.