Artist Statement

I am a painter but also work in other medium such as watercolours and mixed media. Stylistically my work represents realistic representations of people in the township and rural environments inspired by African Culture and current happenings. My aim is to seize the spirit of place and culture of togetherness. Texture and colour are thus rooted within my African experience and project the characteristic vibrant energy and rhythm of African Life. Visiting art galleries, participating in workshops and researching current approaches and techniques in art inspire me. Artists like Cecil Skotnes, Sam Hlengethwa, Pat Mautloa, David Koloane and Kay Hassan are also my continuous source of motivation. Teaching children and sharing knowledge is very important. I therefore love to interact with both young and experienced artists in my neighbourhood and international participate in art forums and workshops from time to time to help inform and uplift young artists in terms of music and visual arts.

My theme is about what we see today that may never be tomorrow or the coming future. It is about capturing the spirit of place and the culture of togetherness within the African tribe concerning its future. My work depicts the land in its perspective horizons, and light that reflects with hope and delight to its beauty regardless of nights or daylights. I have on some subjects chosen farm workers on fields because they influence and persuade me to a certain extend, because of their historical slavery outcomes, when they use to work for white farmers long before South Africa became democratic. Today after South Africa has had its democracy, our grandparents and parents are still working for white farmers as a result of learning and running their own farms and crops in the next future. Today as we speak, some of our parents have already established themselves on their own crops and farming equipments, own cattle, sheep and as a result of the term “redistribution of wealth” has been dealt lately.

So my paintings are mostly derived from the HISTORY OF A FARM WORKER, that we sometimes see along the highways and possibly backyard ploughs. I used women on my paintings because they are most concerned about what is the family to eat before the end of the day that is why they are now mostly found taking part in ploughing.

They say women always holds the knife on a sharper side and they always reap what they have sown.

That is a portrayal of my paintings.

Educational Background : Wallmansthal High

Schooling:

• 1975 Ntamoleng Primary at Mamelodi
• 1979 – 1983 Moved to Soshanguve, Pretoria and joined new school Phutanang High Primary
• 1984 – 1989 Wallmansthal High, leaving school with standard 9

Tertiary Studies :

• 1991 – 1993 Obtained a certificate in Fine Arts with Federated Union of Black Arts, JHB.
• 1992 Obtained a bursary by FUBA, after hard work and good results in 1991
• 1992 Studied ceramic, paper making course at Johannesburg Arts Foundation at Killanery

Professional Experience:

• 1990 Joined Soshanguvu Arts and Culture Forum (SACFO). Conducting a series of workshops, with young and up coming artist in Soshanguvu, Mabopane and Ga-Rankuwa.
• 1998 Part time art teaching for children at Sibongile Early Learning Centre in Soshanguvu
• Conducted Art Workshops at (MACUFE) Arts Festival in Bloemfontein , with two other partners
• The all Arts Workshop in the USA , whereby singing in choirs and Visual Arts were taking place (residency)
• 1999 Conducted series of workshops with Ipopeng partners, to street children and private art pupils at African Window Museum (PTA)
• The THAPONG International Artists Workshop Gaborone, Botswana (residency)
• 2000 Selected into the Collectors Guide to Art and Artists in South Africa , a visual journey into the thoughts, emotions and minds of 558 Artists
• 2002 Joined and worked for Furntrain Furniture Training Centre in Brits North West teaching students furniture and arts
• Specializing with students in wood machining and the safety, discipline and order within the workshop among students while operating the machines
• Offered classes on Wood Carving and Engraving on furniture or cabinets made by students. Classes on relief carving and painting on furniture, eg. On or within carved lines. Classes on furniture Design and Styling (drawing).
• 2003 Joined and worked for RONCOR,RONY CORNICK and Associates in the sam e premises with Furntrain.
• Specialized in carving and painting grooves and motifs for BAKOS BROTHERS (JHB) dining room suits made by RONCOR itself.

  Awards:

• 1991 Best selected painter at the Federated Union of Black Arts (FUBA) Jhb
• 2002 Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Fine Arts Awards (Certificate)
• 2004 The 10 th Annual Vukani Fashion Awards and Fair by SADFA, South African Fashion Design Association.
• 2006 The 11 th Annual Vukani Fashion Awards and Fair by SADFA

Exhibitions:

• 1991-1992 Annual Fuba Students Exhibitions at Thupelo Art Galleries Johannesburg
• 1992 The operation Hunger Christmas Card competition and exhibition
• 1993 Annual Fuba Students Exhibition at Newtown Galleries, Market Theatre complex (JHB)
• Fuba students exhibition at the Berman Galleries (JHB)
• Artists from the Greater Pretoria Region Exhibition (+/- 170 arts) UNISA arts Galleries, Pretoria
• 1995 Watercolour Society of South Africa (Pulse of Africa) exhibition at Norscot Gallery Randburg (JHB)
• Artists from the Greater Pretoria Region Exhibition (+/- 100 arts) UNISA arts Galleries, Pretoria
• 1996 A selection of paintings from the Unisa Art Collection in collaboration with Invited Artists, Unisa Art Galleries
• 1998 Group exhibition, the Undercover Intercultural collaboration installation exhibition, presented by Pretoria Art Museum and Ipopeng Project with National Arts council of South Africa
• 1999 An exhibition (Group) with IDASA at their offices in Pretoria , run by Mrs Ntombi Msimang
• 2002 Artist of Passion Project at Boyden Global executive search. (Parktown JHB)
• A group exhibition exhibition at Ekurhuleni Fine Arts Awards, Kempton Park , JHB
• 2003 A group exhibition of paintings by Contemporary South African Artists with Carol Lee Fine Arts, upstairs at Bamboo, JHB
• Arts and Media workshop and exhibition (group) with UNDP, the Bereou for Development policy HIV/AIDS Group
• 2004 A group exhibition with collaboration of fashion designers at the 10 th Vukani Fashion awards by SAFDA, Menlyn shopping centre, Pretoria
• 2005 Mural Painting, a commission by Edcon and Edgardale
• Commission by Blue Dot company, Paintings translated from office projects and plans of Blue Dot Housing
• An exhibition (Solo) @ The Gallery “A Renaissance on Strydom” with Japans Art and Frame. An exhibition re-evaluating the relationship between the viewer and traditional cultural bias towards modes of portraying landscapes and still life.

Private Collections:

• National Museum and Art Gallery of Gaborone , Botswana
• Mandela Foundations, JHB
• Tshwane North College , CEO of the office
• Transnet
• Individuals in Germany , Philidelphia USA , New York , Rochester USA
• Mopani Technologies/CEO – Benedict Mohlala, JHB
• Fountain Chambers/Sandown Village Office Park Sandton, a collection by Adv. Bokaba and Adv. Maleka