ARTIST BIOGRAPHY / Musonga Mbogo
Musonga Mbogo is a visual artist based on Ngunnawal and Ngambri land. Through his works, he tells a unique story of his Tanzanian and Zimbabwean roots and his Australian upbringing. Having already produced two solo exhibitions in collaboration with the Melbourne Fashion Festival and the Nishi Gallery, he has set out to present works which are palatably modern and equally Avant-garde.
Often times he examines complex issues of diaspora, ethnicity, hybrid identity and globalisation. The narratives which he presents are both ubiquitous and unique and audiences are invited to immerse themselves in his world, imagining themselves as characters in the stories. Each canvas is a collection of aspirations, anxieties and amalgamated cultural references – a true portrait of a young person navigating life as a ‘third culture’ kid.
- Words provided by Musonga Mbogo.
‘Kione’ by Musonga Mbogo
HAKE House, August 2023
Musonga Mbogo presents a solo exhibition that celebrates the multitudes who inspire his work. Kione is a momentous occasion – a reflection on Musonga’s artistic journey, dedicated to his fourteen-year-old brother’s unbridled potential. Musonga was Kione’s age when he first picked up a paint brush. Reminiscing on the inspiration his younger self found in the likes of Basquiat, Musonga’s works are driven by a passion to make powerful art that destabilises the exclusivity of the art industry.
He embraces his humble beginnings – each canvas presently adorning these gallery walls started out pegged to his backyard fence. This suburban studio in west Canberra grounds his creative process. The paint-littered lawn of his family home is a moment of reprieve from the surreal momentum of unexpected success. It is here that he teaches his youngest brother the tricks of the trade.
Sharing his art with those he loves is as much an act of gratitude as an affirmation of their own power and potential. The intangible aspects of Musonga’s practice are intrinsically linked to his love and respect for the fellow creatives in his inner circle. Determined to transmit the creative energy his own role models gifted to his fourteen-year-old self, Musonga embraces his newfound position as a provider of guidance – as an African Australian, as an older brother, as a friend to people.
Kione fosters communal creativity through inspired collaboration and mutual uplifting. Western notions of the singular, genius artist give way to a transformative space which radically amplifies the glow of the limelight. This exhibition showcases the next generations of African Australians, affirming their place within the industry as artists in their own right. Kioneproclaims a worthiness to occupy spaces previously thought unattainable, to share the joys of art with all who wish to experience it.
- Written by Val Volkov, friend of Musonga Mbogo for Mbogo’s solo exhibition ‘Kione’.
MUSONGA MBOGO
Musonga’s solo exhibition ‘Kione’ opened at HAKE Friday 11th August, 2023.
To book an appointment to view remaining 'Kione’ works, please find a link below.
