By Staff Reporter
Mondli “The Artivist” Kunene was mentored by the late legendary South African visual artist, Speelman Mahlangu. He has acquired a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Johannesburg. After working for 10 years in the education sector, he left in 2018 to create art on full-time basis.
Title: “Are Kings born or created ” (2022). Artist: Mondli “The Artivist” Kunene. Medium: Acrylic paint. Size: 61x91cm
Title: “I am because we are” (2022). Artist: Mondli “The Artivist” Kunene. Medium: Acrylic paint. Size: 70x41cm
Title: “The Strength amongst us” (2022). Artist: Mondli “The Artivist” Kunene. Medium: Crocodile and ostrich leather with Acrylic paint. Size: 61x91cm
Title: “Freedom: An irony” (2022). Artist: Mondli “The Artivist” Kunene. Medium: Acrylic paint. Size: 61x91cm
He has trademarked his name as part of his art brand, “MONDLIART®”. In 2016 he was the only visual artist in South Africa invited to showcase MONDLIART® at the 20th anniversary of the signing of the post-apartheid South African constitution. He has also been commissioned to paint huge murals in Sharpeville to commemorate former President Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu’s centennial celebration. The coveted 2019 Design Indaba chose him as “one artist to currently look out for” and this year he is nominated in the Theatre and Arts category for the “Forty Under 40 Africa Awards” which will take place in Accra, Ghana, next month.
Artwork below: “Latency ” (2022). Artist: Mondli “The Artivist” Kunene. Medium: Defunct bank notes & Acrylic paint. Size: 41x71cm
“Trust Your Ability (TRY)” (2021). Artist: Mondli “The Artivist” Kunene. Medium: Defunct bank notes &Acrylic paint. Size: 91x61cm
Mondli has been featured in local and international news publications and online publications. He has also participated in local and international exhibitions raising awareness about social contentious issue of elephant and rhino poaching (2020 Eco Awareness gallery in India) , the Black Lives Matter Movement (New York) and he has also exhibited in a group exhibition in Canada (2021 Liminal gallery).
Artwork below: “Nyuku don’t make a man”. Artist: Mondli “The Artivist” Kunene. Medium: bank notes & Acrylic paint. Size: 61x91cm
Title: “New Slaves” . Artist: Mondli “The Artivist” Kunene. Medium: bank notes & Acrylic paint. Size: 61x81cm
Mondli is also mentoring younger vidual artists and is working on establishing an Art Hub whereby youth in his area can benefit largely from.
The medium he uses to create MONDLIART® includes but is not limited to ostrich and crocodile leather, acrylic and oil paint and defunct bank notes which he uses as a metaphor and that distinguishes him from his peers worldwide. Furthermore, he’s differentiated by the fact that he does not draw background sketches as a guideline prior to him painting, he paints free hand from start until finish, without even using the blocks and number system or using a UV light projector.
The following are hyperlinks of interviews, local including international publications:
https://jozideep.com/2019/05/17/interview-with-mondli-the-artivist-kunene-by-joseph-abongiledludla/
https://briefly.co.za/amp/30507-africas-talent–mans-stunning-art-showcases-history-sa.html https://www.instagram.com/p/B3aPDuAjWKP/?igshid=1wmj5ikxa78x
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1895531297236547&id=969066743216345 (Radio interview Vereeniging)
https://www.facebook.com/MondliArt/
https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/82611574
https://www.designindaba.com/profiles/mondli-kunene https://emergentartspace.org/forum/79907/
Black Lives Matter Virtual Art Show — The Artist Movement https://www.artistmovement.org/artshow https://educationambassadors.org.za/2018/07/mondli-kunene-the-artivist/
SA artist Mondli ‘The Artivist’ Kunene ready to showcase his work globally https://t.co/pckPIyjpMp https://cocaproject.art/artists/mondli-kunene-coca21/https://sacreativenetwork.co.za/2021/04/gianttrees-in-mondli–kunenes-artworks/
https://en.calameo.com/read/006574650ba152d249685 (Online Art Magazine feature)
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To order these works, please reach the artist on mondliart7@gmail.com and follow him on Instagram: @mondliart