Artists

Neo Theku (b.1996) was born in Botshabelo, grew up in Lesotho then moved to Bloemfontein, South Africa to start High-School in 2010. He currently lives and works from Bloemfontein. Theku completed Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design at Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 2020.

His works have been exhibited at Oliewenhuis Art Museum (2019), Phatshoane Henney Attorneys (2020), Gallery 2 (2021), Ark Contemporary (2022) MM Art House (2022). He had taken part in the Art Bank of South Africa Commission Program (2021), Sasol New Signature Finalist (2021), The Nature of Cities Festival (2022), Creative Feels’ Living Heritage (2022), Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize finalist (2022).

“My works raise awareness of mental health among young black male adults, which is caused by different aspects of external factors such as peers, family as well as societal pressure, bad habits, and desires. Often referencing my personal experience and that of my peers, looking at how each young male deal with their depression and how their response to depression affects others around them. I work on this kind of subject matter due to take note that a lot of people shy away from expressing their feelings. Having engaged subject as diverse as depression and anxiety, I am fascinated by how one adopts and develop mental disorder, so I use my photography to ascertain reasons that cause depression and reasons why horrible acts of violence are commonly linked to a male figure.…”