16 May 2016

 The world is filled with exquisite artworks which are the creativity and innovation of individuals who have the talent to design artefacts. 

The Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture has also made an effort to support talent by sponsoring dedicated and zealous minds to start up their own businesses.

It was in 1996 when passion drove Mooketsi Setshedi, a young Motswana artist to start creating art in Isang primary where he did small paintings and drawings that he sold to Phuthadikobo Museum in Mochudi. Setshedi said art was his everything as he would draw during lessons at school.

He said in 2002 at Molefhi Senior Secondary, inspired by his senior and school mate Tebogo Moremi, he decided to change from drawing and painting to sculpture design in his final year exam in which he managed to scoop an A*. He said Moremi continued to mentor him after he completed his schooling. 

He mentioned that in 2004-2005 he went to school overseas sponsored by Mansudae group of companies from Korea where he did a course in sculpture making to perfect his skill.

“The school wanted someone who had done human sculpture work which I had never done before. I just applied and by grace of God I was admitted into the school.”

 Setshedi said when he came back from school he did his first art piece, a donkey sculpture in 2007 and sold it to the National Museum in Gaborone for P8000. He said he did his second in 2010 another donkey sculpture which was worth P14 950 and his third a Zebra sculpture in 2012 which he sold to the education centre for P20 000.

 “I was hired by the Department of Museums Monuments and Art Gallery and stationed at Phuthadikobo in 2010, I then decided to quit in 2012 to start my own business.”

He said beginning of this year the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture through the Youth Development Fund sponsored his business, Kejapholo’s Art and Craft.

He said he diversified his business from just sculpture design to including his first love painting and drawing as well as venturing into t-shirt printing.

The 32 year old Setshedi, advices students who are talented in arts and craft to take what they do seriously as talent can put food on the table. 

“Practice makes perfect, no matter how good you think you are, creativity needs to be nurtured everyday so that you can produce the very best. Attending schools like Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology can also help one perfect their abilities”

He also advised parents and teachers to be supportive to their children as a way of encouraging and growing their talent.

He thanked President Lt. Gen Dr Khama Ian Khama for the President’s competitions that where introduced because he believes they have given a lot of artists the platform to showcase their gifts.

In conclusion he said visual arts have taken another level of growth and recognition in development of arts in Botswana. 

He said citizens should be acclimated with the current modern development to become creative and employ their creative minds to promote an environment for excellence in art for new generation and the public at large. ENDS