BIOGRAPHY: Lehlogonolo Mashaba
Born in Kwa-Thema, Lehlogonolo studied visual art at Funda Centre in 2003. He grew fond of printmaking which led him to study at and graduate from Artist Proof Studio (2004- 2006) with NQF level 5 qualification in design and printmaking. He also holds a Diploma in Interior Decoration (2007) from Intec College. As part of his APS studies, he also received a certificate for the EDL employment foundation course in 2004.
Although he intended to become an interior designer, somehow Lehlogonolo realized that his true passion and mode of expression is actually visual art. This is where he finds the flexibility to create imagery that is not constituted by fashion but perpetuates eternal insights.
Lehlogonolo is currently employed by Artist Proof Studio as a collaborative printer specializing in intaglio, relief, monotype and screen printmaking processes. He feels passionate about the daily challenges and surprises his job entails.
As an artist, Lehlogonolo has been involved in various projects. In 2006 he won the first price in Grahamstown for the Standard Bank mural competition. He was invited by the David Krut Workshop (DKW) and Art Bank to attend a unique print workshop with five other artists leading up to an exhibition at DKW in 2007. He received funding from the National Arts Council for an artist residency at the Experimental Printmaking Institute (Lafayette College) and the Artist Image Resource in PA, USA in 2008, where he produced an impressive body of silkscreen works. These works were sold out at the APS stand at the 2009 Joburg Art Fair. Other exhibitions include the Annual APS Third Year show in 2006, and a group collage show at The Premises Gallery in 2007. He has made appearances on TV and radio shows, e.g. SABC Africa and SAFm. He has been featured in newspaper articles in the Sunday Times and Art Times. His latest project has been creating artworks for bus stops as part of the new Johannesburg Bus Rapid Transit system.
Lehlogonolo’s artworks focus on issues and elements of identity that contemplate what constitutes the “beingness” of something and the behaviours in relation to time, space and memory.