Farren van Wyk's artistic practice explores themes of identity, heritage, and colonialism, much like Ernest Cole, who was born in the apartheid era in Southern Africa and documented the harsh realities of Black South Africans. His photographs depicted the daily struggles and injustices faced by Black South Africans, highlighting the dehumanizing effects of apartheid on their lives.

Similarly, van Wyk's work explores the complexities of colonialism, apartheid, and racial identity in South Africa, but from a more personal perspective. Like Ernest Cole, Wyk was born during the final years of the apartheid era in Southern Africa and moved to The Netherlands at the age of six. By grappling with her own mixed heritage and identity, van Wyk sheds light on the ways in which race and ethnicity continue to shape individual experiences and perceptions in post-apartheid South Africa. Both photographers explored complex issues of identity and heritage and challenged viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about the past and present. Through their work, they sought to inspire change and offer glimpses of hope for a more just future. Despite being from different times and places, their photography reminds us of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and social justice.