07 Sep 2014

Heavy metal enthusiasts or Ma-Rock, as they are popularly known in Botswana, were the centre of attraction and intrigue at an art exhibition held at Sophie Lalonde Art, an upmarket art gallery at iTowers.

Ma-Rock are a curious mix of heavy metal cowboys within the setting of urban/rural Botswana and they invoke a lot of mixed emotions from people looking in from the outside.

Fear, intrigue, comical, curiosity and confusion are just some of the emotions that people experienced when they encounter such an interesting bunch.

One such artist who developed an interest in the heavy metal sub culture in Botswana is Aldo Brincat who is currently the head of drama at Westwood International School.

Brincat has established a trust fund, which seeks to enable Ma rock members featured in the collection that was showcased at Sophie Lalonde Art to earn a living with their unique identity.

Brincat is a photographer with a background in theatre, having studied in Paris under the luminary Jacques Le Coq in the 1980s.

Speaking on why he decided to do a shoot with Ma-Rock, Brincat said the whole aim was to empower them as he considers them to be artists in their own right.

“They thrive off being witnessed, documented and celebrated and by requesting them to pose for each shot, we were able to see a bit of each individual member’s personality,” he said.

“Ma-Rock embodies theatre in their everyday lives and this is why I became interested in them,” he said.

With a few accolades to his name, among them being voted in 2009 by the Mail and Guardian as South Africa’s Top Male Solo Stage Performer of the Decade, Brincat said art is something that we see every day and it comes in all forms and should be supported.

He indicated that all the proceeds from the exhibition will go to the trust he has established for Ma-Rock. Ends