19 Oct 2014

Fear has always been a part of what makes a human being and it has the power to shape a person’s outlook in life, either positively or negatively. It even has the power to make or break a man and inhibit a person from realising their full potential.

Some people have a fear of failure, a fear of spiders, snakes or creepy crawlies but it is all up to an individual to learn on how to live with their fear.

It is said that everyone is born with an instinctive fear of something and one such lady is 20-year-old Tamara Lopang from Francistown, an all-round artist studying at Limkokwing University, who seems to be reluctant to come out of her shell and share her art with the world.

“People have told me that my paintings are amazing and for some reason I seem to think otherwise and I hide them away from the world,” she confessed. Not only is she a painter, she is also a photographer and a singer. She even doubles up as a student, doing her first year.

Speaking on how she got into art, Tamara said she started drawing when she was doing her Form 3 in 2008 and it was all because she was not able to do art as a subject at school.

“I was kind of touched that I was not able to have art as a subject and as such I started drawing sketches and doing poetry during my own time,” she said, adding that she recently started painting.

“For now, I am just using plain paper for painting but I want to move to fabric painting and I am currently using acrylic and water based paint,” said Tamara.

She has been thinking of going professional for a while and seems to be headed in that direction, having sold her first painting for a little over P200.

“People who saw it actually said I should have sold it for four figures but I think I just doubt myself that much,” she said with a sigh.

Tamara said that she has on a number of occasions been invited to exhibit at Sophie Lalonde Art gallery but has not been able to honour the invitations due to personal circumstances. 

“I have also taken to social networks with the aim of putting myself out there and the response has been great and I have been getting a lot of feedback regarding my work,” she said. She also wants to reach out to Sophie Lolande Art gallery with the hope of being allowed to exhibit there.

Tamara said,“the way I do my art, may it be photography, painting or singing is very different to how most people do theirs but I am opening up to new things since now I have been working with one of my classmate,” she said.

About the art landscape in Botswana, she said, “most people feel that P8 000 is too much for the work that I would put into someone’s pre-wedding and wedding documentation, forgetting that I have to take pictures, video and then edit that much footage,” she said, adding that people need to appreciate the good work that artists here in Botswana do.

Tamara applauded government for providing a platform for the creative arts to grow in Botswana.

‘Government has been nothing but amazing in trying to grow the creative industry in Botswana and it is now up to Batswana to take those opportunities and move a notch up,” she said.

She also intends approaching Thapong Visual Art Centre to see how best she can benefit from having a working relationship with them.

On where she sees herself in the next five years, Tamara said she wants to develop into an international brand and hoist the Botswana flag high.

“I want to have an art gallery, one in Botswana and one outside the country. That is my dream,” she said.

Having a conversation with Tamara Lopang, one notices that she is a very reserved young lady and tends to be a loner. One can only wish that she finds the courage and strength to trust her art and talent for the world to enjoy how she sees life. 

Such talent should not be hidden away from the world. Art is beautiful and has to be shared with the world, who knows, it might change, inspire or even save a life. ENDS