Tanisha Bhana

Born 1976 in Durban, South Africa

Currently lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa

Tanisha Bhana is an interdisciplinary artist who also practices as a financial attorney whilst founding a retreat in the Magaliesburg region of Gauteng, South Africa. She is fascinated by the ephemeral nature of life, the often overlooked or unseen.

Through her use of photographic montage, which consists of matter she observes and collects, such as discarded objects, perishable or inert waste material, organic refuse, mulch, concrete, resin, natural pigments, synthetic products, blood, plastic, decomposing matter and light, she composes a new visual narrative with layers of charged images.

She has participated in numerous collaborative projects, notably the display of works with poet and activist, Dr Rama Mani, for the performance-dialogue on War, Women and the Human Spirit, at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Canada in June 2014 and in collaboration with Dr Annette Idler and Dr Rama Mani, for the 'Changing Character of War' performance project, Graduate Institute, Geneva and University of Oxford, Centre for International Studies, in May 2016. Another noteworthy collaboration was the display of artworks in collaboration with Dr Rama Mani, for the poetry, lyrical performance and dialogue on “The Art of Hospitality” for World Refugee Day), French Consul of France in Istanbul, Turkey, (20 June 2014). She has also conducted talks and discussions on the topic of 'Rebirth, Transformation and Decomposition' for The Da Vinci Institute and First National Bank.

She has been awarded several awards including the 'New and Multi-media and Photography Award' by The Thami Mnyele Foundation in 2013. Her solo exhibitions include Transience at the Lovell Gallery in 2011, Cape Town, South Africa, 'Metamorphosis' at ArtCo Gallery GmbH in 2013, Herzogenrath, Germany and Mortal Remains at the Ann Bryant Gallery in East London, South Africa, also in 2013. She regularly participates in group exhibitions locally and internationally, and her work is a regular feature at both The Turbine - and the Joburg Art Fair in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Artist Website