The artwork of Paarlite Dieuwke-Jean Linee (27) will be showcased in August at the Koena Art institute in Observatory, Cape Town to celebrate women.
The institute’s youngest female artist, Linee’s new art collection is dedicated to South African women who greatly contributed to the national landscape in their respective fields.
“Art has been a part of me since the age of 6 when I loved copying the covers of my Disney DVD collection. At high school I took visual arts as a subject from Grade 8 in 2008 to Grade 10 in 2010.
“In 2010, I was among a select few learners chosen at La Rochelle Girls High School to study visual arts as an additional subject at the Jack Meyer Art Centre in Paarl. My love for dramatic arts made me choose this subject in the last two years of high school. I have never stopped drawing after matric; even while studying Tourism Operation Management at Boston College I kept on drawing.”
She said her late father, the Springbok rugby player Tinus Linee, always encouraged her to keep on drawing even when she chose to do dramatic arts instead of visual arts in Grade 10.
“I have never followed in his footsteps by participating in sports, but in 2012 he had the opportunity to see me receive a trophy for best monologue at the Paarl Valley Eisteddfod. In 2014, I lost my father to motor neurone disease after a 12-month sickbed. His sickness and the conditions surrounding his passing had a very traumatic effect on my life. This was to the extent that I could not write my final exams to complete my Diploma in Tourism. I fell into a serious depression, but despite the medication I always had my art to fall back on. I felt as if I could express my feelings through creating with my hands.”
In 2018 Linee had the privilege of shadowing a well-known local artist in Paarl, Kervin Cupido, for three months.
“He helped me with composition, colour mixing and encourage me to use acrylic paint more,” he said. “When I became a tour guide in 2019 the beauty and architecture of the historic buildings of Paarl captivated me to such an extent that I started drawing and painting them. I did a few ballpoint and pencil sketches, oil pastel drawings and acrylic paintings.”
According to Linee she has been planning her first solo exhibition for Women’s Month for some time, without knowing where the exhibition was taking place.
“I would like to pay tribute to the known and unknown women of our country for the roles they have played in its history, whether directly or indirectly, as well as their contribution to our democracy.
“From the earliest roles played by the first female interpreter up to the female activist for women with disabilities today, to name a few. As an up-and-coming female artist I want to celebrate these ladies through this exhibition.”
To see Linee’s work, visit Koena Art Institute at 42 Trill Road, Observatory, Cape Town.
