About The Artist

Artist statement

Bongi Bengu's work can be described as social commentary due to her life as a Black/African woman, and a black woman artist.

In her early years, she worked mainly in collage, drawing upon images from popular media, playing with the pervasive representations.

Bongi's recent output – utilising leaves - and engagement with nature, preserving, questioning and re- interpreting the meaning of life and its organisms.

It speaks of the process of decay and renewal (of life). It also echoes her own personal experience of exile and homecoming.

Bongi has moved towards more subtle forms of expression. Her artworks has moved from the specific and more towards a form of expression where light, dark and texture have replaced the more literal expressions - a freedom where the narrative can be submerged and the essence can be explored.

This is an expression of her quest for inner peace and freedom.

Bongi, is seeing more opportunities resulting from the corona virus than the challenges.

It is time for quiet meditation and reflection, returning to the core values of family togetherness, learning to work together in collaboration and as a collective, respecting Mother Nature.

Bongi Bengu Alchemy is all about using the magical power of art to transform all circumstances

Artist CV

EDUCATION