Jean Bollweg

I am a creative, curious, charismatic and goal-driven individual who is hardworking and loves to keep learning. I have a fascination with the development of human society and how it defines individuals. My life goal is to communicate human interactions and ideas in creative, interesting and thought-provoking formats that positively influence their audience and inspire empathy between different people.
In high school, I was a boy scout, completed my first dan black belt at the age of 16 and started the Dahogrian Empire, a medieval combat, performance and teambuilding business that I still run on the side. I completed my undergraduate Diploma in Visual Art at the University of Johannesburg in 2014 and my Honors in Fine Art in 2015. In my Honours year, I was an assistant sculpture lecturer and privately tutored high school History. After completing my Honors I worked full-time at the Workhorse Bronze Foundry before returning to studies to start my Masters in Fine Art. At the time of my Masters, I tutored Visual Arts, History, and English through TeachMe2, and History and English through TutCo. For my Masters, I self-published my first historical comic book, Ma Florrie part one. The comic was based on research into Westbury’s previously unrecorded anti-apartheid activist, Florrie Daniels, and was made in collaboration with the Legacy Project heritage organisation. I then started at St Stithians Boys College as a locum Visual Arts teacher from January to April 2020.
Currently, I am working as a permanent Visual Arts, History, and Ubulingiswa (social justice awareness program) teacher at St Stithians Girls College while concluding my PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education.)

I have worked in a diversity of arts-based industries and exhibited on a number of occasions. After completing my Honours in Fine Arts in 2015, I worked full-time as a sculptor at a bronze foundry for a year. I transitioned to a part-time sculptor when I started my Masters in Fine Art. This post ended in October 2017. While studying for my Masters I also tutored Art, History and English across a few tutoring companies. This time period was accompanied by participating in a few exhibitions of my older artworks. For my Masters I researched, drew, wrote, and self-published the first part of a two-part graphic novel based on anti-apartheid activism in western Johannesburg. The second part has not yet been completed. 

Following the conclusion of my Masters, I started working as a locum Visual Arts high school teacher at St Stithians Boys college in 2020. After my locum post expired in April 2020, I started working in a permanent post at St Stithians Girls college in May 2020. I currently teach Visual Arts, History, Ubulingiswa (social justice awareness), and I am involved in student leadership. 

Part-time, I also still run a small business called the Dahogrian Empire, which is a competitive teambuilding groups that stages Medieval battles, and have done a few stunts and performances for Alter Egoes events. This has given me exposure to running stands at ComicCon Africa, GeekFest, and Alter Egos numerous market events. I have also worked overseas as a dog sledding trainer. 

In 2014, I completed my Diploma in Visual Arts, and in 2015 I completed my Honours in Fine Art at the University of Johannesburg. I started my Masters in Fine Art in 2017, and completed it cum laude in 2020. Currently, I am finalising my PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) in Visual and Creative Art.