#81: Kristin Coetzee (Artkhiives)

We're joined by fine art student & videographer, 'Krickey', who tells us more about Artkhiives, Tall Horse Pinotage, Requiem for a Dream (2000), Sarafina (her camera), and much more!

An up and coming face in the creative scene, Kristin a.k.a ‘Krickey’, an artist, who’s no one tricked pony... she paints, draws and creates whatever she envisions. She’s also the founder of Artkhiives, her debut creative brand where her art goes beyond the canvas. A self-taught artist, videographer and editor–it’s Kristin and her camera (named Sarafina) against the world.

There is more to her than what she shows of herself on the internet, Kristin’s a fine art student, a jazz lover born on the same day as Kanye West, movie enthusiast, and firmly believes that you can never go wrong with a glass (bottle) of wine.

We welcome Krickey to The FRM Newsletter to share what she’s been into recently!

🎨😈 ARTKHIIVES

My pride and joy, Artkhiives–my brand. This is something I have been planning for a very long time. I’ve finally gone through with it and I’ve never been happier. It’s where my art goes beyond the canvas, it’s my alter ego, my identity, my style, my visions, my everything. It’s my creative space, where I bring my ideas and dreams to life. It’s where I can work with other artists, brands and dreamers to create true pieces of magic every time. Being an artist is something that has always been in my blood, and I knew that this is what I wanted to do with my life very early on. I am a fine arts student with big dreams including movie direction and production. I’m very inspired by movies from the 80s and 90s, and by directors such as Stanley Kubrick, Edgar Wright, Dario Argento etc... I’m a true lover of colour, and it’s evident in my work. There is a reoccurring theme of red (it’s my absolute favorite colour) and It’s my signature “thing”. I love making my works feel like an exciting movie trailer, who knows, maybe in the near future we’ll get an Artkhiives production film :) For my works I use this little purple camera, that I’ve named Sarafina. She’s my day one, she’s family, and she must be respected… sometimes dynamite comes in small packages hehe.

To have my own brand has been a goal that I’ve finally achieved and I’m not stopping anytime soon. Stay tuned I have some tricks up my sleeve... Go show some love to Artkhiives ;)

🍿🎬 Movies

There’s nothing I love more than movies, if I’m not on the go with art school, filming and editing, I’m huddled in bed with as many pillows and blankets I can get ahold of (you can never have enough pillows and blankets) with a tall cup of tea (I’ll unpack the tea thing in a moment). I find it beautiful how through movies you can escape to a different world or universe, where anything is possible. That is the same experience I want to give through Artkhiives. I want to make people feel things through my work. I believe the best way to watch movies is to not know what it’s about, just go for it, experience it with no premeditated ideas of it. Trust me you’ll enjoy it more. My favorite genres are thriller, horror (even though most of the time I will be covering my eyes in fear) and stupid 90s/00s rom/comedies. My favorites are Requiem for a Dream (2000), American Mary (2012), Peeping Tom (1960) and my all time favorite comedies are any with Ben stiller, my favorite comedy movie series, Meet the parents (2000)Meet the Fockers (2004) , Little Fockers (2010). But my all time favourite comedy is Along came Polly “Are you for Scuba? “ hehe if you know, you know :) I’m not a big series person, but Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul hold a special place in my heart (I’ve watched these more than 3 times).

🇧🇷🎷 Music

I always say I’m a “I listen to everything” type of person (which isn’t always true lmao). But im one big jazz fan, especially Bossa Nova. I believe that it is the audible version of what heaven feels like. You can’t go wrong with the classic icons, Stan Getz and João Gilberto. If you’re getting into Jazz and Bossa Nova , I recommend Wave–João Gilberto , Desafinado–João Gilberto and Stan Getz, Yesteryear–Snorre Kirk, Michael Blicher. Moving aside from jazz, I listen to a lot of old hip hop, rap and indie. And the music included in my works for Artkhiives are from my personal playlists. Mac Miller, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar will forever bless my ears. Some highly underrated albums ( my personal favorites) I’d recommend are, The Low End Theory–A tribe called Quest, You–Larrylovestein & The Velvet Revival (fun fact this is one of Mac Miller’s alter egos), Glass Flowers–Elysian Spring and Negro Swan–Blood Orange.

🥘❤️ Food

I love spicy food. You can’t go wrong with a good curry or Thai food.

✈️🌏 Lifestyle

My biggest lifestyle advice is invest in travelling. I’ve had the great opportunity to visit many different places in the world, from inside Africa, Middle East, South East Asia and Europe. It’s worth every penny. You learn so much and experience a different way of living that makes you either yearn for that life or be grateful for the life that you have. Another piece of advice is, as cheesy as it is, do what you love , as my dad says to me, “ do what you love , money will always come” <3

🧑‍🦰 Hair

If you know me , you know I change my hair constantly, whether it’s hair color or style I do it all . My friends have to quite literally beg me to leave my hair alone. To give some context, I think I can go from red to blonde with 3 sessions of a clicks highlight kit and think my hair is NOT going to fall out. I’ve dyed it black now to hide my mistakes heheh. (Right now I’m focusing on hair care due to the consequences of my actions but I’ll be back ;P ). My hair is a big part of my identity and self expression and this year alone, I’ve had some very humbling moments, but you know.. character development.. Nevertheless, my advice is don’t be afraid to try something new, your hair grows back .. and it doesn’t define your beauty.

❤️💅 Fashion

ACCESSORISE!!!! They really do elevate your outfit. I enjoy accessorising in many ways, whether it’s unique hair clips, to earrings or rings. I love them all. And also be creative with what you have, sometimes the answer is not buying new items but rather use the ones that you own by reinventing or repurposing how you wear or use them.

🍷🍵 Drinks

You can’t go wrong with a cold glass (bottle) of Red wine, a specialty amongst my friends and I is definitely “Tall Horse Pinotage”,It gets the creative juices flowing for sure.. I’m also a big tea lover, some teas I love and would definitely recommend are Green Peach Tea or Chamomile, NO SUGAR PLEASE!

📚ᱷ Books

My favorite author is Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian Author who makes some books that can really change your perspective of life. They’re mostly fictional stories with underlying symbolic meanings.From his books, I’d recommend, Adultery, The Alchemist and Maktub. (A little fun fact the word “Maktub” which in Arabic translates “it is written” inspired the tattoo I have that says “Estava Escrito”–which means it was written in my mother tongue, Portuguese.which I got when I was accepted to Art school :) )

‼️ Some Fun facts about me

I’m Mozambican–South African. I speak Portuguese and I’m left handed. I have a giant scar on my right arm, and I always tell people I was bitten by a crocodile(to make it sound cooler than it actually is.. sorry to those who believed me, the jig is up hehe).