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Billy Molokeng |  |
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| Name: | Billy Molokeng | ||
| Location: | Alexandra Township, South Africa | ||
| Date of birth: | 1949 | ||
| Date of death: | |||
| Description: | Billy Molokeng was born in 1949 in the township of Alexandra. He lost his parents at a young age and was brought up by his sisters. In order to make a living, he sold his drawings and paintings. His talents being recognised, he was sponsored to attend a private art school by a patron. He is a self taught artist who works in pastel, watercolour and acrylic. His works follow an African theme and are sought after by art lovers and interior decorators. Molokeng is also fond of music and started composing his own songs in 1980. This love has seen him become a popular singer, known as "Billy Africa". Billy is a versatile and inventive artist. It is difficult to define him stylistically save for some general characteristics. While he initially worked in a typical township manner, his artistic development has been dynamic and he has changed direction on many occasions. Because of this dynamicism, his art does not become stereotyped. His early paintings illustrated daily life in the townships. From 1980 he changed to the fusion of urban experience with African motifs and culture, at which stage bushmanlike figures started appearing in his paintings. He then reverted to township life rendered in a very personal manner, again blending with the landscape elements. His artwork has been exhibited from 1968 at Dorkey House Braamfontein. To date he has held 7 solo exhibitions, one of which was held in Braunschweig West Germany in 1980 and another at the Canadian Embassy, Gallery 101, Lidchi Art Gallery. He won the Republic Festival Painting award in 1981. His works can be found in many private and public collections both in South Africa and overseas. | ||
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WIZARDWORX