VISUAL artist Bongani Khanyile had entered the Sasol Art Competition three times and did not make the cut.

Khanyile says he had never lost hope.

It was only on the fourth attempt, that he not only made the top seven but also scooped a merit award plus a R10000 cash prize.

The top seven was chosen from 99 finalists of a competition was won by Elizabeth Balcomb.

"I was disappointed when my first two entries failed to make it into the top 100," he says.

"I tried again last year and only made it to top 100. This time I gave myself time to do research and come up with a unique subject."

Khanyile, 24, from Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal impressed the judges with his piece entitled Helmets.

It challenges the conventional view of the labourers.

"Manual labourers in South Africa are often purely seen as subjects of labour.

"My artwork challenges this viewpoint to show another dimension that people do not often consider," says Khanyile.

His work consists of five decorated ceramic hard hats with various illustrations carved on them.

Each illustration depicts the hopes and aspirations of the worker, showing the individualism of the workers.

"Generally, a helmet is worn as protective gear for the head, here it is used metaphorically to protect the labourer's identity from conventional observation or stereotypical labelling," he says.

After failing to reach the pivotal top 100 stage twice, this time Khanyile had to interrogate his subject to ensure that it was strong enough to stand on its own.

It took him three weeks of sleepless nights to come up with all the elements of the piece.

In defining the process, he says: "I cast the actual helmet with mould to model it.

"While it was still wet, I started working on different designs.

When it was completely dry, I lit it on a fire and burned it to give it a light-reddish colour."

Though his subject is about labour, through his creations he tries to deal with the issue of power, class and economic inequality.

He offers the issue of Marikana as a clear example of economic inequality.

Khanyile says he enjoys exploring the theme of labour because of his rural background.

"I grew up in a working class environment. I know how it is to have experienced these inequalities. In my family, I will be the first one to graduate from university," he explains.

Khanyile is currently studying towards his BTech degree in fine art at the Durban University of Technology.

He first developed the love of drawing before he could understand art. He started drawing with a pencil when he was eight years old.

In Grade 8, he attended Saturday art classes at the Durban Art Gallery. After matric, he did a one-year course in arts at BAT Centre also in Durban.

"It was only then that I realised that I wanted to go to university and study arts. I felt it was important for me to study it further and understand it."

Khanyile does sculptors, paintings, drawings and installations. He has exhibited at the Durban Art Gallery, African Art Centre in Durban, Pretoria Art Museum and Intoto Gallery in Johannesburg.

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