Personal information:
Full name:
Helena de Bruyn - (called Linky) Nee: Stoker   Date of birth: 12 February 1941
ID 410212 0042 080

Formal education:
NDG ( Pretoria Technikon 1961) & NHDG 1981 - (both cum laude)
 
BA UNISA (University of South Africa) - majoring in Philosophy and Logic (1979)

Physical address:
188 Outeniqua Avenue,  Waterkloof Park, PRETORIA .  0181  SOUTH AFRICA.

Postal address:
P.O. Box 11142,  Maroelana,  0161.  South Africa


Synoptic CV - Linky de Bruyn
My professional career as graphic designer and multi-faceted innovative artist spans more than 45 years and can roughly be divided into three periods:


A.        1962 - 1974 I was employed as graphic designer by Ernst de Jong studio on a part time basis from 1962-1965. During this period I also lectured in Basic and Graphic design at the Pretoria Technikon. After my marriage in 1965 I freelanced as graphic designer, furthered my studies at UNISA and The Pretoria Technikon, worked as aquarellist and ceramic artist and also lectured on a part time basis.

B.        1975 - 1989   STUDIO LINKY was established in 1975. During the years 1975-1989 the Studio was mainly and intensively involved in a private Group of Companies.

C.        1990 - 2006 I devoted my time to managing and expanding Studio Linky into divers and exciting avenues.

In 1991 a decision was made to computerize, and I familiarized myself with various programs in the fields of graphics, design, and of late, multi-media - working on both the PC and Apple Mac platforms.


My studio is lovingly called Kaleidoquest. The word is derived from 2 Greek words and the word quest. KALOS = Beauty and EIDOS = Form + QUEST. It is situated in a beautiful, lush, park like garden in a quiet suburb in Pretoria. 


Over the years, the studio has developed into seven interrelated branches:

1.        STUDIO LINKY - graphic design, specializing in corporate image, the creation of exceptional promotional items such as unique calendars, cards and book design.

2.        LINKY CADEAU - unique handmade gifts, mainly created on a commission basis.

3.        LIBRI LINKY - the creation of hand written and limited editions of hand printed, hand bound books.

4.        LINKY ELECTROGRAPHY - digital art.

5.        KALEIDOQUEST - where creative possibilities and innovative ideas are continuously explored and discovered in various art forms, experimental media and techniques such as utilizing the  laser as cutting instrument for my layered laser cuts, the silkworm breeding project, my silk icons and of late creating interesting sculptures out of old computer, scanner and printer parts.
 
6.        OIL PANTING - At the end of 2002 I seriously accepted the challenge of this medium.

7.        MULTI-MEDIA - The culmination of several passions: photography as in capturing beauty, writing as in script writing, music as in composing a sound track, design as in editing. - A Tribute to Bombyx mori - and Seasons and Cycles inspired by Bombyx mori are two example of this exciting avenue of artistic expression. 
        

Many major companies have made use of my services during my professional years as graphic designer in creating specialized designs or the establishing of their corporate images.

As a multi-faceted artist I have also set myself the challenge of creating visual poetry on a computer, and it is this that I call ELECTROGRAPHY. I have had three successful exhibitions of Electrographs at different reputable art galleries in Pretoria.
 
Over the years I have taken part in many one-man, group and home exhibitions as an oil and water colour artist, ceramic artist, graphic- and digital artist. My work can be found in numerous private collections both in South Africa and abroad.




2004 - 2005 I decided towards the end of 2002 to cut down on the graphic design branch of my studio and devote most of my time to my painting, writing, the silkworm project and the creation of silk icons. In focused dedication I worked towards two solo oil painting exhibitions A Pilgrimage into Solitude, Stillness and Light. (August 2004 at the Pretoria Arts Association) and Another dimension - where less is more and nothingness becomes everything (October 2005 - Alette Wessels Kunskamer). A spiritual quality of light is portrayed in vast and evocative landscapes and seascapes. My technique is that of extreme subtlety in colour grading and colour fusion thus creating serene and contemplative quietness. These paintings can be described as a direct experience of the power and magic of white, which I perceive as the great, unfathomable and invisible mystery of light.  Stark contrasts have no place in these works. Soft and subtle nuances matter far more: the merest hint of colour becomes bold and powerful when placed alongside pure white.  I exhibit no fear of large open white planes - only respect and awe. Any effort to photograph or reproduce my paintings greatly reduces the subtle effects of the pastel colour and reflected light. My paintings have to be experienced direct.

2006 - My first DVD - A Tribute to Bombyx mori - being the silkworm + the supplementary e-book The Entwinement of Man with Bombyx mori on CD as well as the Afrikaans version - Hulde aan Bombyx mori - synde die sywurm + Die Mens in  Verweefdheid met Bombyx mori were released in October 2006 and received with great acclaim.
 

2007 - 2008 The seasonal silkworm cycle was photographed once more using better video and still cameras. The new visual data as well as the additional information surrounding the silkworm and sericulture were used to create a new version of A Tribute to Bombyx mori - being the silkworm and its supplementary e-book. Another DVD - Seasons & Cycles - inspired by Bombyx mori was also created. Both the above mentioned were released in 2008.
 
The last six months of 2008 I focused on recycling. RA and a few other exciting artworks were created out of old computer, printer and scanner parts.