Nationality: Swazi
Currently lives in: Manzini, Swaziland and Johannesburg South Africa
Preferred Medium: Acrylic & Digital Print on Canvas, Mixed Media Installations
Artist Biography
Mbongeni Fakudze was born in Mbabane on April 16, 1982. He studied at Sifundzani Primary School and then attended Waterford Kamhlaba (UWCSA)until Form 5. He then completed a Fine Arts correspondence course through the University of South Africa, Pretoria. Afterwards, he attended the Tswhane University of Technology in Pretoria for Fine Arts. Upon completion, he returned to Swaziland where he registered a small company doing animation work for corporate advertising. After a few years he moved to Johannesburg where he studied 3D animation in Randburg. After receiving his certification in 3D animation, Mbongeni returned to Swaziland and now does primarily visual art work.
Mbongeni was first introduced to the arts at Waterford where he discovered himself as an artist. His art teacher liked and emphasized the importance of Surrealist art, and Mbongeni was exposed to artists like Dali and Magritte, both of whom still influence his work today. “Upon finishing school,” Mbongeni remembers, “all I wanted to do was paint”. He quickly, however, moved from painting to exploring digital art and animation. “Animation is the natural next step” he explains, “the still leads to the moving object”. Mbongeni’s animation is artistic and abstract, as opposed to commercial. He has recently become interested in film – exploring multi media performances that combine video, photographs, and graphic art with live performance. He also enjoys writing poetry, an art form that he sees as very connected to his visual art – “all of my art comes from the same mind, just in different mediums.” In every medium, Mbongeni’s work is lyrical, quite abstract, and oftentimes socially and politically relevant.
In 2004 Mbongeni after being awarded the Best Figure Drawing Award at TUT ,Mbongeni was invited by SABC to do a portrait for the Program “All You Need Is Love “ which wasv aired on national TV(SABC 1). Another important highlight in Mbongeni’s artistic carrer occurred in 2010 , when he was awarded for Best Public Sculpture competition by the Matsapha Town Board . His sculpture now stands as a historical monument in the gardens of the town board.
2013
SACA (Swaziland Arts And Sculpture Award ) For Best Sculpture 2013
2014
Finalists for Babhali Besiswati – Macmillan Logo Design Competition
2015
First prize for the prestigious Swaki Public Sculpture Competition.
Awarded, for the second time , the SACA ( Swaziland Arts And Sculpture Awards ) Award for Best Sculpture 2015
2016
his painting “The Pipe Lady” was used on the front page of international magazine “Luxuria Lifestyle Magazine Africa”
He has been involved in numerous exhibitions:
2017
“Androgen” Solo Exhibition , ODA Gallery Franschhoek
2016
“August House Group Show” , Hazard Gallery
“Stephen Welz and Co Studio Gallery”
“Turbine Art Fair”
“August House Group Show”, August House
“Dark Passages Lighted Rooms” MAP Gallery
2015
“Swaziland Now” exhibition , Bushfire/Yebo Gallery
“Swaziland Arts and Culture Exhibition” , Swaziland National Museum
“Swaziland Now” exhibition Yebo Contemporary Art Gallery
2009
Swaziland Arts Association Annual Exhibition , House on fire
Swaziland Arts Association Annual Exhibition , Guava Gallery
2014
“African Frame Of Mind “ exhibition Yebo Contemporary Art Gallery 2014
