21 Oct 2015

It is a worldwide practice that artists exchange skills and techniques to improve each other’s talent. 

It is for this cause that three United States professional artists are in Botswana to facilitate a three-day collaborative workshop co-hosted by the US Embassy and Thapong Visual Arts Centre.

The opening of the workshop on Tuesday (October 20) was a public lecture. 

During the course of the workshop, the three artists will share techniques and experiences with Thapong members, while the workshop will cover painting, sculpture and printmaking.

Speaking at the event, Thapong acting chairman, Mesh Moeti said earlier this year, some members of the board and the coordinator, paid a courtesy call to the US Ambassador, Earl Miller and their discussion was centered around the possibility of a cultural exchange between Thapong and similar centres in the US, hence the workshop.

“Our interest was driven by the desire to expose our artists to new skills and techniques, as well as to take Botswana’s art to the outside world,” he said.

Furthemore, Moeti noted that an interaction such as this one was a platform that could bring the attention of the outside world to the art coming out of Botswana. He said one of the Thapong members and  the country's well known fine artist, Wilson Ngoni was recently profiled on CNN International.

Meanwhile, Thapong coordinator, Reginald Bakwena said he was impressed by the presentations made by the US artists, adding that they were good at explaining their work, something which he said  the local artists were lacking. Ends