South African Art Scene: Artist depicts powerful, empowered women in mixed media

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Let's go to South Africa now to meet an emerging artist whose portfolio features women in empowering roles and positions. Mbongeni FaKUdze was born in Swaziland and is currently living and working in Johannesburg. And his mixed media artworks are rapidly gaining a following. CGTN's Yolisa Njamela has more.

Mbongeni Fakudze is a master at acrylic and digital print on canvas and mixed media installations. Fakudze often depicts women wearing headscarves. He believes that way, he is portraying a symbol of womanhood and power. Fakudze's expressive strokes, scrapes and splashes break down the face but on standing back they come together as a solid form.

YOLISA NJAMELA JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA "Fakudze is greatly inspired by the identity of contemporary African women and the issues that surround them on a daily basis."

He says he depicts women's beauty and their pride. But he also addresses issues that women face in societies.

MBONGENI FAKUDZE ARTIST "It's the strength that women have in my life. The importance that women have in society and the fact that they are more visually appealing than men. It's a subject that keeps me on the canvas. I can't get bored. This is generally inspired by what? By the fact that my mother is a very strong woman and plays a very crucial role in my life."

Fakudze says he is continually enthused by strong women.

MBONGENI FAKUDZE ARTIST "These are general portraits, expanded from mainly from people that I know but I'm also just inspired by strong faces. This is inspired by the face of Eryka Badoo. In most of these portraits, they are wearing head wraps and the head wrap in African culture, in many non western cultures has a strong representation."

Fakudze says he's fortunate that many art enthusiasts appreciate his work.

MBONGENI FAKUDZE ARTIST "It's a good representation of Africa. It's a good piece of Africa so people appreciate that. They want to see this in the houses, that aesthetic as part of their lives."

He's held solo exhibitions and is keen on having many more.

MBONGENI FAKUDZE ARTIST "The future is to continue to spread the brand in Southern Africa, in Africa but we are also looking at showing in other countries. I've shown recently in Singapore."

Fakudze says it's important for him to share his thoughts, experiences and ideas with others across the world. His art provides him a platform through which to do that. Yolisa Njamela, CGTN, Johannesburg, South Africa.