Wolfson College Royal Academy Schools Graduate Prize - Fungai Benhura - Feel the Rhythm

Fungai Benhura’s work is made up of multiple layers of different materials, each layer is very important as it represents history that's being buried and rediscovered. Picture any building being constructed and completed only to be destroyed to reveal the various materials that have been used in the process of it being erected. The end product unveils a painting that has a character and personality of its own. In the case of Benhura's work, the end product is surprisingly much more visually attractive. This process of constructing and deconstructing means that he is then reconstructing the painting into something else, more like in archaeological restoration. His work also questions the notion of being at a stage of creation or destruction. Like a palimpsest, most of the materials used are already made, such as posters which leave traces of what’s been buried underneath each layer. The work can be viewed in many ways including from a distance or up close to fully understand its detail, texture and very abstract nature.