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Bokani

 

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Bokani’s artistic practice bridges continents and disciplines weaving together African sensibilities with Western conceptual art Born in Zimbabwe and currently based in London, her path transcends geographical boundaries, drawing inspiration from diverse cultural landscapes and intellectual currents.

Formal education played a pivotal role in shaping Bokani's artistic language. Her 2009 undergraduate studies in Politics with Economics at the University of Bath instilled a critical awareness of social and environmental issues, while her 2022 Masters in Art at Goldsmiths College, specialising in Computational Art, honed her technical skills and conceptual frameworks. This interdisciplinary background informs her artistic engagement with themes of integral ecology and climate justice.

Liberatory Black feminist thought serves as another crucial thread in Bokani's tapestry. This engagement manifests in her art through subtle yet powerful allusions to African cosmologies, ancestral narratives, and the lived experiences of marginalized communities. Rigorous research into sustainable economic theory, ethnographic interviews about classic Ndebele traditions, and fabulation are part of the artist's wider inquiry.

Bokani's main chosen medium, stained glass, undergoes a radical transformation in her hands. She pushes the boundaries of this traditionally decorative practice, imbuing it with conceptual depth and contemporary relevance. Intricate abstract work adorns the glass surfaces, narrating stories of resilience, migration, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Mirrored surfaces dance with reflections, drawing viewers into a dialogue between perception and reality, challenging them to confront their own positionality within the complex web of ecological and social relationships