Mbongeni Buthelezi

Mbongeni Buthelezi (born 1965 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is an artist who creates paintings with plastic waste.

Biography

Buthelezi studied from 1986 bid 1992 on African Institute of Art, in Johannesburg from 1997 to 1998 at the city's Witwatersrand University.

Buthelezi took the world at different "Artist in Residence " programs in part, including several times in Germany:

  • Guest Artist, Wiesbaden, Germany
  • Art: Space Sylt Quelle, Rantum, Germany
  • Studio house Höherweg eV, Dusseldorf, Germany
  • Standard Bank National Arts Festival, South Africa
  • Vermont Studio Centre, New York, USA
  • Art Omi International Artists Centre, New York USA

Work and working methods

The material with which Mbongeni Buthelezi his " painting" produces is entirely plastic waste: for he crushed the colored plastic and bring this with a glue gun on the canvas, creating piece by piece surfaces that are structured by material and iridescent hues. The use of this material for his work speaks not only for awareness and concern Buthelezi regarding environmental issues and physical decay in the townships, but also on the further reference to the general social and political impoverishment and lack of options and alternatives, which he observed in South Africa.

Buthelezi wants to convey hope, especially through his art. He believes that people can realize by his work and his career that exist in South Africa in spite of everything many ways out of nowhere to gain a better life. Through art, one is able to change his life and for the sake of the world to contribute something positive.

Buthelezi says to his special style:

"I have now developed 18 different techniques, each of which has subtle differences. The material can be applied as broad brushstrokes ' in many colors or kept in sepia tones, where layers of neutral shades create visual depth, as well as in a linear fashion "

Buthelezi's work has been exhibited worldwide, including at places like the Museum of African Art in New York, the Museum Goch in Germany and at the Biennale in Prague.

His work is also represented in collections worldwide, including:

  • Mercedes -Benz South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
  • Daimler AG, art collections, Stuttgart, Germany
  • Museum for African Art, New York, USA
  • Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Spier collection, South Africa

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions (selection )

2011:

  • Gallery Seippel Cologne, Germany

2010:

  • Seippel Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • House on Lützowplatz, Berlin, Germany
  • PAN Art Forum Lower Rhine, Emmerich, Germany
  • KZNSA, Durban, South Africa
  • Oliewenhuis Art Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa
  • Red Location Museum Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  • William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley, South Africa

2009:

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

2008:

  • Seippel Gallery Johannesburg, South Africa

2007:

  • Gallery Seippel Cologne, Germany

2006:

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

2005:

  • SBK Stichting Beeldende Art, Amsterdam, Holland
  • Gallery Seippel Cologne, Germany
  • Art: Space Sylt Quelle, Rantum, Sylt, Germany

2004:

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

2002:

  • Gallery Seippel Cologne, Germany

2001:

  • Studio house Höherweg, Dusseldorf, Germany
  • Spark Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Group exhibitions ( selection)

2010:

  • ROLAND Gallery Cologne, Germany
  • Gallery Seippel Cologne, Germany

2009:

  • FNB Johannesburg Art Fair, South Africa

2007:

  • Seippel Gallery Johannesburg, South Africa

2006:

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
  • German development agency DEG, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Art Fair with Gallery Seippel Cologne, Germany
  • Gallery Seippel Cologne, Germany

2002:

  • Art: Space 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, USA
  • Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

1998:

  • Grahamstown National Arts Festival, South Africa

1997:

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

1996:

1995:

  • Mofolo Art Centre, 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, USA
  • Van Rijn Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Gallery Sandton, 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, South Africa

1989:

  • Nasrec Showground, Johannesburg, South Africa

1988:

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