​Contemporary South African Art

Wokpo was born on 26 July 1939 in Middelburg, Cape Town. He received his education at the University of Potchefstroom, but his studies were temporally interrupted by a motorcycle accident. However, from 1961 to 1964 he enrolled for a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts with Botshabelo Training College and the University of Pretoria, and majored in sculpture. During this period, he also worked as an editor for Gerwe Magazine, and as a translator for the Afrikaanse Boekhandel Beperk. Jensma has been known for his extensive traveling, and work experience in countries such as Swaziland, Botswana and Mozambique. He taught art at Serowe Art School in Botswana. Many art analysts have spoken greatly about Jensma's work, although critics have also found flaws. Most spoken about, is the ability to use multiple languages in his poems to strike the message home. As a privileged White artist, he spoke openly about the injustices that were experienced by Black people during apartheid. His poems Once and Now, speaks openly about racism experienced by young girls working as domestic workers. Written around the 1970s, these poems could also be read as an extension of his personal experiences with the South African government. He had a mixed racial marriage that was not allowed or even recognized by the South African laws. But, Once and Now, is not the only poem which Jensma displays his distaste of apartheid laws, inWhere White is the colour/Where Black is the number, critically looks at the meaning of being Whiter and Black in South Africa. Written in 1977, this poem was banned.

Later in life, Jensma suffered a psychological illness known as schizophrenia, which incapacitated his artistic skills and turned him into a vagrant. Eventually becoming the state's responsibility, and receiving a disability fund. At this time he was leaving in the Salvation Army Men's Home, a shelter that accommodates people with no where to go. He lived there until 1993 before disappearing without a trace.

He was a family man married to an African, Lydia and together they had two children, a son and a daughter. His son died in 1997.

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Studies: Gained a BA (FA) in 1964 from the University of Pretoria; also studied at Potchefstroom University for CHE.

Profile: Taught art at schools in Mozambique; during the late 1960s taught art at schools in Botswana.  1965-67 a translator of novels for APB Publishers.  A multilingual poet.

Exhibitions: He has participated in group exhibitions from 1960 in SA, the USA and the UK; has held solo exhibitions in Johannesburg.   

Represented: Durban Art Gallery; SA National Gallery, Cape Town; University of the Witwatersrand; William Humphreys Art Museum, Kimberley.

References: BSAK 1&2; AASA; Artlook January 1969 and February 1970; De Arte September 1969; Garden & Home August 1976.