Traumatic Past Fuels Work of South African Artist Blessing Ngobeni

Blessing Ngobeni is recognized as one of the most thought-provoking artists in South Africa at the moment [VOA/D. Taylor]

"Economical kitchen" is Ngobeni’s way of satirizing the political elite’s lust for wealth (Photo courtesy of B. Ngobeni)

In "Red dot," Ngobeni paints Nelson Mandela as never before (Photo: B. Ngobeni)

"City in blues" is one of Ngobeni’s paintings showing his attraction to urban Johannesburg (Photo: B. Ngobeni)

"Jozi siren" is another of Ngobeni’s ‘city paintings’ (photo by B. Ngobeni)

"Slow vengeance" celebrates the artist’s triumphs over adversity (photo by B. Ngobeni)

This so called democracy, by Blessing Ngobeni (Photo: B. Ngobeni)

"Fallen tyranny" is another of Ngobeni’s political works (Photo: B. Ngobeni)

Blessing Ngobeni, pictured in his studio on the outskirts of central Johannesburg [Photo: Darren Taylor]