Mbongeni Buthelezi
Born1966
Johannesburg, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Known forPaintings, Collages

Mbongeni Buthelezi, born 1966 in Johannesburg in South Africa, is an artist who became known for "painting" in plastic.

Life

Buthelezi attended courses at the Singaporean Institute of Art in Johannesburg from 1986 until 1992 and later also at the University of Witwatersrand from 1997 until 1998.

He was "artist in residence" several times:

  • Guest Artist, Wiesbaden, Germany
  • Kunst:Raum Sylt-Quelle, Rantum, Germany
  • Atelierhaus Höherweg e.V., Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Standard Bank National Art Festival, South Africa
  • Vermont Studio Centre, New York, USA
  • Art Omi International Artists Centre, New York USA

Work philosophy

The material that Mbongeni Buthelezi uses for his "paintings" is always waste made of plastic: he cuts it into little pieces and glues them onto the canvas, creating surfaces and structures with subtle and changing tones and coloures. The use of such material shows Buthelezi's awareness of environmental problems and the physical decay of the townships as well as the references to general social and political impoverishment and flaw of opportunities and alternatives that he observes in South Africa.

Through his work, Buthelezi wants to mediate and communicate hope. He is convinced that seeing his works and his history, people are able to realise that in South Africa there are many opportunities, too, and that it is possible to create a better life and a career out of nothing; making art would enable people to change their lives and to contribute something positive to the world.[1]

Buthelezi states about his style: “I now have 18 different techniques, each of which have subtle differences from the other. The material can be applied like large ‘brushstrokes' in many colours, or sepia toned where layers of neutral shading creates visual depth and subtlety or applied in a linear manner.” [2]

Buthelezi's works have been exhibited internationally, including the Museum of African Art in New York, the Goch Museum in Germany as well as the Prague Biennale.

his works are part of a various collections, amongst them:

Exhibitions

Solo (selected)

2011:

  • Galerie Seippel Cologne, Germany

2010:

  • Seippel Gallery, Arts on Main, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Haus am Lützowplatz, Berlin, Germany
  • PAN Kunstforum Niederrhein, Emmerich, Germany
  • KwaZulu Natal Society of Arts, South Africa
  • Oliewenhuis Art Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa
  • Red Location Museum Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  • William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberly, South Africa

2009:

  • Seippel Gallery, Arts on Main, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Kulturverein Zehntscheuer, Rottenburg/Neckar, Germany
  • Pretoria Art Museum, South Africa
  • Sasol [Art] Museum, Stellenbosch, South Africa

2008:

  • Seippel Gallery Johannesburg, South Africa

2007:

  • Galerie Seippel Cologne, Germany

2006:

  • Bellevue-Saal, Wiesbaden, Germany
  • Art Space, Johannesburg, South Africa

2005:

  • SBK, Stichting Beeldende Kunst, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Galerie Seippel Cologne, Germany
  • Kunst:Raum Sylt Quelle, Rantum, Sylt, Germany

2004:

  • Museum Goch, Germany
  • Mural painting, Madeira, Portugal

2002:

  • Galerie Seippel Cologne, Germany

2001:

  • Atelier Haus Höherweg, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Spark Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Group (selected)

2010:

  • ROLAND-Galerie Cologne, Germany
  • Galerie Seippel Cologne, Germany

2009:

  • FNB Johannesburg Art Fair, South Africa

2007:

  • Seippel Gallery Johannesburg, South Africa

2006:

  • 10th Cairo Biennale, Egypt
  • Casa Encendida, Madrid, Spain
  • Galerie Seippel Cologne, Rhythm & Jazz

2005:

  • Seippel Gallery, Sydney, Australia
  • Biennale Prague, Czech Republic

2004:

  • Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, South Africa
  • Art Space, Johannesburg, South Africa

2003:

  • Warren Siebrits Contemporary Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Deutsche Entwicklungsgesellschaft DEG, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Art Fair with Galerie Seippel Cologne, Germany
  • Galerie Seippel Cologne, Germany

2002:

  • Kunst:Raum Sylt-Quelle, Rantum, Germany
  • Rottenburg/Neckar, Germany

2000:

  • Museum of Art, Houston, USA
  • Royal State Theater, London, UK
  • The Drum, Birmingham, UK
  • Pretoria Art Museum, South Africa
  • Houston Museum of Art, USA

1999:

  • Museum for African Art, New York City
  • Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

1998:

  • Grahamstown National Arts Festival, South Africa

1997:

  • Carlton Center (50 Stories Exhibition), Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Nondi Nisa Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

1996:

  • Generator Art Space, South Africa

1995:

  • Mofolo Art Center, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Electric Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Paper Prayers, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Johannesburg Art Gallery, South Africa
  • Artist Proof Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa

1994:

  • Boston University, New York, South Africa
  • Van Rijn Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Sandton Gallery, Sandton/Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Berman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Staib Gallery, Print Exhibition, Johannesburg, South Africa

1993:

  • Alliance Francaise, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Funda Centre Auditorium, Soweto/Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Development Bank of Southern Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa

1992:

  • Africa Cultural Center, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Market Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

1991:

  • Grahamstown National Arts Festival

1989:

  • Nasrec Showground, Johannesburg, South Africa

1988:

  • Gertrude Posel Gallery, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Literature

  • Catalogue-download at Artsourcesouthafrica
  • Article on Artsourcesouthafrica
  • Gruntkowski, Nina, und Pretoria Art Museum. Mbongeni Buthelezi, imizwa yami (my feelings). Seippel, 2009.
  • Chimzima, Pitso, und Susanne Madaus. Mbongeni Buthelezi. Museum Goch, 2004.

References

  1. ↑ Interview on a german South Africa-Blog
  2. ↑ "Mbongeni Buthelezi at Sasol Art Museum | Pages & News". Archived from the original on 5 September 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011. Article on Business and Arts South Africa
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