Bokani’s technique involves urgent, gestural movements, exploring and responding to colours as they interact on the canvas. She believes in the integrity, freedom and seductive honesty of abstract painting. Bokani has developed a method over several years of creating rational patterns that lead the viewers’ eye across the paintings, reminiscent of the dancing African printed cloths of her childhood.
Bokani’s work is characterised by spontaneous, vibrant colour, fuelled by an exploration of themes and motifs engaging the viewer intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. Painting has empowered her to move past the childhood loss of both parents to resolve questions of global female identity, black African heritage and belonging. Bokani’s resilient, triumphant and optimistic attitude is conveyed by the passionate, powerful and vivid use of colour, structure and texture. This tension between creative abandon, emotional expression and technical discipline elicit dynamic responses, creating works that are an on-going conversation between the artist and the viewer Bokani Tshidzu was born in Zimbabwe and moved to England as a teenager. She studied Politics with Economics at the University of Bath and is living and working in Bow, London’s East End. Her work has been exhibited across the UK and has been acquired by numerous collectors in London. Bokani is dedicated to continual development as an artist, embarking on technical skills courses and exploring art districts and exhibitions from her home town Bulawayo, to Cape Town, Karachi, Beijing, Los Angeles, New York and London. Her work is blending an African sensibility with the traditions of conceptual western art.