artist & practice
i'm giselde, the south african designer and artist behind kring.
my fascination with circles began with a childhood spirograph set. i was captivated by how a few simple movements could produce such intricate forms. the fascination never quite left. it simply found its way into other materials.
after more than a decade in visual communication and brand identity, kring became a space for more personal play and exploration.
each work begins with a circle, finding expression through ink, pierced paper, beads and clay. where geometric precision meets the unpredictability of making by hand.
growing up in kwazulu-natal, i developed an enduring appreciation for zulu beadwork, particularly zulu love letters.
to me, they are one of the most beautiful expressions of visual communication: a language of colour, shape and pattern through which deeply personal sentiments can be shared without words.
my dutch and afrikaner heritage brings another influence, particularly my affection for delft-inspired ceramics and the layered histories they reflect.
these influences find their way into my work, sometimes deliberately, sometimes unexpectedly.
at its heart, kring is an exercise in curiosity. an ongoing study of the possibilities contained within a circle.