Patrick Bongoy was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Kinshasa, studied at the Academy of Fine arts, and now he lives and works in Cape Town since 2013.
In his words: “My work speaks in response to the global reality of literal and figurative environmental pollution. This encompasses the entire spectrum from the erosion of economic viability for people, socio‐cultural decay impacting on community and individual behaviour and natural rural and urban landscape. I draw on the history of my roots in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as the irony of contemporary urban degradation masked as development. Through the recovery of waste materials such as inner tubes from vehicle tyres, industrial packaging and textiles combined with my use of paint and African fabric, I repurpose and reinterpret what others discard. Beyond the intentional recycling element of this process, the visual concepts I explore surface a range of the pertinent issues.”
Bongoy’s works tell sad narratives that focus on the most vulnerable members of society and how they are often exploited by those in power.
He has also been part of various exhibitions, competitions and fashion shows worldwide.