Bokani Zimbabwean, b. 1987
We're the ones we've been waiting for VI, 2023
mirrored glass, enamel paint, metal frame
(in this photograph the artist appears in the reflection of the work)
(in this photograph the artist appears in the reflection of the work)
120 x 61 cm
Further images
Bokani's stained glass paintings are meticulously crafted layers of enamel paint on mirrored glass. The works draw the viewer contemplatively into the piece through a distorted reflection of the self...
Bokani's stained glass paintings are meticulously crafted layers of enamel paint on mirrored glass. The works draw the viewer contemplatively into the piece through a distorted reflection of the self and the surrounding environment. The immersive quality of the paintings creates a liminal space in which new realities seem tantalisingly within reach. Vibrant colours imbue the works with a talismanic aesthetic, while the reflective surface acts as a portal, transporting the viewer to a new idealised place. The paintings are in a constant state of flux, adapting to the changes in light that occur throughout the day and the seasons.
Inspired by her personal experience and religious belief, Bokani’s glass works reference the stained-glass windows, both Gothic and Contemporary, of the church she goes to in London. The artist uses this parallelism to investigate how divine light travels and is diffused through each individual to the rest of the world. Through her art, Bokani invites the audience to critically engage with pressing social and ecological issues. By including the viewer in the reflection of her glass works, Bokani invites us to reflect on the idea that we are all part of the same picture, complicit in how we treat each other and the environment.Bokani’s resilient, triumphant and optimistic attitude is conveyed by the powerful and vivid use of colour, structure and texture.
Bokani is a Zimbabwean-born, UK based multidisciplinary artist whose practice is situated at the intersection of art and technology, by including abstract glass painting and computational installations. Recently, she collaborated with the internationally renowned designer Oswald Boeteng, creating a selection of works in response to his collection that focused on the concept of authenticity of being; this series was exhibited both at Selfridges and at Oswald Boeteng’s Savile Row Boutique, London. Bokani holds a BA in Politics with Economics, and a MA in Computational Art. Her work is grounded in the ethics and liberatory capacities of Black feminist thought. Bokani has exhibited her paintings and installations throughout the UK and Europe and has recently been awarded a public art commission by the London Mayor’s Office. The artist has been featured in international publications such as Aljezeera, The Independent and the Art Newspaper. Bokani chooses not to use her surname in art as an objection to patriarchal naming practices.
Inspired by her personal experience and religious belief, Bokani’s glass works reference the stained-glass windows, both Gothic and Contemporary, of the church she goes to in London. The artist uses this parallelism to investigate how divine light travels and is diffused through each individual to the rest of the world. Through her art, Bokani invites the audience to critically engage with pressing social and ecological issues. By including the viewer in the reflection of her glass works, Bokani invites us to reflect on the idea that we are all part of the same picture, complicit in how we treat each other and the environment.Bokani’s resilient, triumphant and optimistic attitude is conveyed by the powerful and vivid use of colour, structure and texture.
Bokani is a Zimbabwean-born, UK based multidisciplinary artist whose practice is situated at the intersection of art and technology, by including abstract glass painting and computational installations. Recently, she collaborated with the internationally renowned designer Oswald Boeteng, creating a selection of works in response to his collection that focused on the concept of authenticity of being; this series was exhibited both at Selfridges and at Oswald Boeteng’s Savile Row Boutique, London. Bokani holds a BA in Politics with Economics, and a MA in Computational Art. Her work is grounded in the ethics and liberatory capacities of Black feminist thought. Bokani has exhibited her paintings and installations throughout the UK and Europe and has recently been awarded a public art commission by the London Mayor’s Office. The artist has been featured in international publications such as Aljezeera, The Independent and the Art Newspaper. Bokani chooses not to use her surname in art as an objection to patriarchal naming practices.