Chonat works in the media of sculpture and printmaking.
Sculpturally she works with bronze, glass and various metals, often combining them in a single artwork. When making prints her preference is for hard ground etchings, drypoint or relief prints.
Conceptually, the same themes are carried through both media.
Chonat was formerly a Mathematics lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand for thirty years. Drawing on her expertise in mathematics, she helped to create a popular interest and involvement in mathematics by elucidating the nexus between mathematics and traditional African craft objects, and has been involved in the production of numerous articles, books, TV documentaries, videos and DVDs relating to that topic.
Chonat has been the mathematician involved in the development of the series Africa meets Africa (www.africameetsafrica.co.za).
After leaving Wits University, Chonat studied art at UNISA from 2004 to 2007 and also attended several glass courses both locally and in England, given by international glass artists.
Chonat has participated in numerous group exhibitions in South Africa as well as in London, and also in two solo and a number of two people exhibitions.
