Prison life, slavery inspires South African artist at contemporary expo

Prison life, slavery inspires South African artist at contemporary expo

World

Prison life, slavery inspires South African artist at contemporary expo

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) - South African artist Blessing Ngobeni first picked up a paintbrush during a nine-year stint in prison, drawing fellow inmates and birthday cards to "kill time".

This month, the now renown 35-year-old showcased his work at South Africa’s FNB Art Joburg, a leading contemporary art fair featuring artists from across the continent, back in full swing after a two-year pause linked to the pandemic.

In front of colourful surreal canvases stood a painted set of antique armchairs and sofas, inspired by an eerie discovery in 2016 of a chair in North Georgia allegedly stuffed with the hair of black slaves.

South African artist Blessing Ngobeni talks to guests during a show at South Africa’s Joburg Art Fair, a leading contemporary art exhibition featuring artists from across the African continent, in Sandton, South Africa, September 3, 2022. (REUTERS-PHOTO)

South African artist Blessing Ngobeni poses for a photograph at his studio, ahead of a show at South Africa s Joburg Art Fair, a leading contemporary art exhibition featuring artists from across the African continent, in Sandton, South Africa, September 3, 2022. (REUTERS-PHOTO)

"It was story that I needed to work with and bring it to life," Ngobeni told Reuters. "(In) things that we own, lies a secret, lies DNA, lies memories, lies pain of the other people."