01 Nov 2016

A trustee of Thapong Visual Arts Centre has indicated that with funds permitting they hope to host more international artists at the centre with regard to the residency programme with the sole reason of building fruitful exchanges for local artists.

Officially opening Nico Phooko’s visual art exhibition hosted at Thapong Visual Arts Centre, Tom Ketlogetswe said Phooko had been at the centre for three (3) weeks on an exchange programme and it had been an insightful couple of weeks.

He indicated that Phooko was scheduled to be in the country for a month and ‘his art is inspired by music.’

“He paints to the beat of the song and every brush stroke is invoked by a song,” he said, adding that such an orthodox way of doing art was encouraged among artists.

Ketlogetswe further said the residency programme encourages the exchange of ideas among artists and also builds lifetime linkages with likeminded organisations from outside.

“Over the years, we have hosted similar artists like Phooko and they have left lasting lifelong impressions,” he said.

He noted that the way Phooko does his art leaves much to be desired from our own local artists and he urged local artists to push boundaries and do the most.

“We have been very happy to host Phooko and we hope that the experiences he picked up from Botswana will inspire him going forward and market Botswana in the process,” he concluded.

Reginald Bakwena, coordinator of Thapong Visual Arts Centre said Phooko is a renowned South African artist who has sharpened his trade over the years and commands respect in his native country.

He said, “Phooko’s exhibition is special and his art deserves to be applauded and celebrated the world over.

His exhibition is titled Notes and Strokes and he will also demonstrate live how he does his art and also relates to music.” 

Bakwena indicated that artists need to follow Phooko’s lead and break away from the formal way they make art and challenge their thinking and the way they interact with their audience.

“I am not saying other artists should copy what he does but they should be inspired by him to break the fold and do things differently.

They should not just do something for the sake of being different, it should be original and show the passion someone has for art,”

he said, adding that the public deserves to see art that is unique and challenges them to have a different view from which they are used to.

He further noted that as Thapong, they need to further strengthen the residency programme to have more artists coming to Botswana to share their craft.

“What I liked and observed since Phooko came here, is how some of our local artists interacted with him and even did some artworks with him,” he said.

For his part, the man of the moment Nico Phooko indicated that he plans on travelling through Africa in search of authentic music to paint to.

“Africa has a lot to offer and I am very happy to have come to Botswana and I have been impressed with the music that I have heard,” he said, adding that Batswana are friendly people forever smiling, polite and very peaceful.

A few local artists had the chance to join Phooko whilst he did his live painting among them, Frank De Painter and Kate Kwate to mention a few. 

Phooko’s artworks are set to be on display for a week and art lovers had been encouraged to visit Thapong to appreciate them, more or so that he painted them while in Botswana. ENDS