Biography

Bokang Mankoe was born 1992 in Tembisa, Johannesburg. He studied printmaker at Artist Proof Studio. On his first year at APS he was part of a collaborative exhibition facilitated by Frieda Groffy a visiting poet from Belgium in 2013.

He won (with his peers) the Thami Mnyele Art on Paper Merit award (2013). Mankoe graduated and exhibited at Artist Proof Studio in 2015 and was one of the top 30 finalist in the SA axi arAt Award (2016). He also made it to the top 100 finalists in Thami Mnyele Art Competition in 2016 and 2018.

Mankoe was featured in the Fresh Produce Mentorship Program and Strauss & Co exhibition bothe at the Turbine Art Fair In 2017 he worked as an assistant printmakeron William Kentridge projects.

In 2021 he exhibited and appeared on several online shows such as Latitudes (What shapes us? Makes us? Guides us) group show, Turbine Art fair online and Artsy online platform. 

He currently works as the Pro-shop Coordinator, printer, and papermaker at Artist Proof Studio.

Artist statement

After the death of my father, I was left with the responsibilities of a father, as I am the first born and older child. My work interrogates and asks the questions in finding the perfect male figure and role model to my siblings.

My work focuses on the construction of the perfect man and masculinity. I reference the Golden ratio face by Leonardo da Vinci to build and create my face using geometric lines, colours and shapes. Through the use of the monotype technique, I layer these elements in constructing an alter ego of this perfect man. I emboss some of these elements to create a tactile element to the work.

I am also interested in white light as a metaphor for perfection. The seven colours in the spectrum of light portrays the aspects that makes him ideal. This is expressed through the multi-layered monotypes.

I use offcuts from handmade paper in some of the work. The idea of using discarded paper and giving it new life is symbolic of history and creating a better future. This goes back to the man I had to be after the death of my father.