Kamohelo Blessing Rooi
Kamohelo Blessing Rooi is a South African artist born in the province of Gauteng in 2001.
Rooi's work centres around the artist's personal connection to the township and interrogates the emotional landscape of Soweto, where he currently lives and works.
Rooi's interest in the arts was first initiated through 'arts and crafts', classes where he was introduced to Nelson Makamo, Wonder Buhle Mbambo and Jean Michel Basquiat, who became significant influences.
Working primarily in Acrylic on Canvas, Rooi has established his style through a series titled; 'Kasiflavour' which translates to 'Location Flavour', highlighting his deep affection for the township. Rooi paints stills, culled from both his own photobook collection and personal experiences to capture Soweto's nocturnal allure through his use of bright colours and flat brush strokes.
The moments captured in Rooi's paintings are the result of a delicate balance between recollection and interpretation. Whether it's an intimate moment between friends or figures staged against the Sowetan landscape - Rooi's reverence for his richly diverse home and its inhabitants is paramount.
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