Ep.22 Bongani “Dbongz” Mahlathi
BONGANI “DBONGZ” MAHLATHI
Bongani Mahlathi, known as "Dbongz", is a graffiti-rooted street artist from Mohlakeng, Johannesburg, South Africa. When he first left his township in 2008 to pursue his tertiary education, Mahlathi discovered what would re-direct his path...graffiti.
Dbongz became active in the graffiti scene and became intensely drawn to the freedom of movement and expression it afforded him, as well as the confidence and determination of realising this passion at a global scale.
Though he couldn’t study art, he searched books, watched videos, and observed other artists. Through trial and error, he taught himself the art of painting, however life in the township happened, and he was not painting as frequently as he would have loved to, because of the lack of finances, amongst other hurdles.
In 2017, Mahlala made a conscious and intentional decision to dedicate all of his life to pursuing art as a way to counter depression and anxiety. He immersed himself totally in finding and defining his own painting style and voice, which is currently characterised by muted tones, traditional and spiritual patterns, and large-scale figures.
Dbongz's artistic aim is to use this developed language or style and aesthetic, which are easily relatable, to timelessly vibrate higher in mundane spaces, to perpetually inspire ongoing optimism in young and elderly minds, and to spread a true narrative of enlightenment to the lost and to heal the broken.
He aims to travel and paint all over the townships in South Africa and globally; to date, he has been to 10 countries across the world and is looking forward to painting in more countries all over the world.-
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts | Images supplied by Andile Bhala and Bongani Mahlathi.
