SANSA GHANA WORKSHOP 2004
JANUARY 2004
 
2004 began with the Sansa international Artists workshop in Kumasi, Ghana. This was an unforgettable experience that not only allowed me to interact but also collaborate with some of the accomplished artists such as Dilomprizulike, Leticia Azuru Avoka, kari¹kacha seid¹ou and Pamela Clarkson Kwami and Atta Kwami. This experience also afforded me the opportunity to experiment with new techniques and in addition experience the rich culture
of West Africa for the first time.
 
BONGI BENGU
 
I was born in Eshowe, Kwa-Zulu Natal in 1970. As a child I was constantly drawing but it was only during my last year at High School that I saw the possibility of doing art as a profession after having visited some prominent South African artists such as David Koloane, Helen Sebidi, Bongi Dhlomo, and William Kentrige. I then went to study Fine Art in Washington D.C. and earned a BA degree in Fine art from Mount Vernon College. I sold my first painting on graduation day and graduated cum laude and received numerous
awards. After having returned back to South Africa in 1994, I had trouble adjusting to the educational system in my country after having grown up in exile with my family. Nevertheless I succeed to receive my MFA in 1997 and was the first Black South African to receive my MFA at Michaelis School of Fine Art. The title of my dissertation was Power Lost Power Gained:Contemporary African woman visualized. Whilst at Mount Vernon in D.C., an all
women college, I was inspired by having predominantly female professors who encouraged me to read female writers. And whilst at UCT, Peggy Delport who was one of my lecturers encouraged me to look at women artists such as Frida Kahlo and Paula Rego.
 
In the last two years I have been invited to take part in several exhibitions and workshops:
First solo show in Johannesburg Woman at the prestigious Goodman Gallery, 2003 Solo show, Woman at Bell Roberts Gallery in Cape Town, 2004
Solo show, Faces at Dat Hogehuis, Germany, 2003
Group show, CrossKnotting, Berlin Germany, 2003
Group show at the Artspace, Johannesburg, 2003
Group show, Insight at Upstairs@Bamboo, Johannesburg, 2003
Group show, Daughters of the earth, Klein Karoo Arts Festival, 2003
Group show, BotshebeloDoll Project, MuseumAfrica, Johannesburg, 2004
Sansa International artist workshop, Kumasi , Ghana, 2004
 
In April, I was invited to take part in a group South African show: A Decade of Democracy: Witnessing South African Art, Boston. Also in April, I took part in group show called Identity, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
 
I was invited to represent the African continent in La Hijas de la Terre, (Daughters of the Earth) a group show of internationally acclaimed female artists, Canary Islands, 2001 I co-curated a show with Sipho Ndabambi at the South African Embassy in Germany, Berlin promoting young South African artists, 2001. I was invited to take part in The National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, USA, 2001
 
My work is included in the following collections: Billiton B.H.P., SABC, MTN, UCT, DE BEERS, Rand Merchant Bank, Florida A&M University, Tallahasse, Florida, Musee de la Civilasation, Quebec, Government of Switzerland offices, Van Den Ende collection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Future goals:
 
I want to keep exploring new avenues in my work, for example working with different mediums and tackling different themes.