 BONGI BENGU Sister Sold |
 BONGI BENGU Untitled |
 BONGI BENGU Tribute to Fridah Kahlo Sold |
 BONGI BENGU Untitled |
 BONGI BENGU Royal Woman |
 BONGI BENGU Self-portrait with Zulu hat |
 BONGI BENGU Ukuphota revisited |
 BONGI BENGU Woman of the forest (the one with leaves) |
 BONGI BENGU Untitled |
 BONGI BENGU Young Woman with Two Cows Sold |
Artist's Statement
Bongi Bengu, whose arresting self-portrait of 1999 is based on the haunting 1940 self-portrait by famed Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, continues to explore the theme of 'Women' in her latest paintings and collages. Bengu states: 'I seek to celebrate female pioneers and heroines, locating them in their place in history, and presenting them as the heroines that history books and the media have made invisible.' In her latest works, she is attempting to portray an empowered state of black women, such Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Miriam Makeba, Dolly. Rathebe and Esther Mahlangu, for example, who are clearly located as equal participants and contributors in the progess of this young and emerging society'.
'By aligning myself with this line of thinking.... I am searching to define my own identity. I ask myself questions relating to woman's sense of power of powerlessness'.
Biography
Education
Institution: University of Cape Town, Michaelis School of Fine Art
Degree obtained: MFA - Received June 1997
Institution: Mount Vernon college, Washington D C USA
Degree obtained: Bachelor of Arts, CUM LAUDE, Received May 1993
Awards and Achievements
French Award, International School of Geneva, 1987
Deans' List, Mount Vernon College, Spring 1991, 1992, Fall 1993 and Spring 1993
Merit Award, Mount Vernon College, 1992 - 1993
Certificate of Recognition, National Museum of African Art, Washington D.C. December 1992
Alphi Chi National Honour Society, 1993
Arts and Humanities Award, Mount Vernon College, 1993
Fine Arts Award, Mount Vernon College, 1993
Who's Who among Students in American Universities & Colleges, 1993 0- 1994
Artwork feature in Student Art Gallery, Washington D C May 1993
AW Mellon Scholarship 1995 - 1997
Maclver Scholarship 1996 - 1997 - awarded to promising postgraduate women students in Michaelis School of Art
CSD Scholarship - 1997
"Cognisance: The Creative Cape" Exhibit, AVA, September 1996
La Boheme Noir, Primart Gallery, Cape Town, October - November 1997
Work Experience
Institution: National Gallery - Cape Town
Period: October 1997 - October 1998
Position Held: Trainee Curator
Institution Hirshorn & Sculpture Garden - Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Washington, D C
Period: 19 January 1993 - 22 April 1993
Position Held: Intern
Duties: Office Assistant and Docent Training
Institution: National Museum of African Art, Washington D C
© 2007 All rights reserved. Origination by Di Conradie.