14 May 2018

Coordinator of Thapong Visual Arts Centre says the aim of Thapong is to discover, support and give exposure to artists in terms of their creativity.

Speaking at the launch of an exhibition titled This is my Story, by five Batswana artists, Reginald Bakwena said it was important to have activities that give young artists a platform to experiment with colours, sculptures and many other things to showcase.

“This is the kind of platform we are creating here and it is the kind of platform where people learn to appreciate creativity and where people learn who created the artworks,” he said.

Bakwena said it was also important for artists to work hard and bring in artworks that could entice the audience.

“We need to promote art appreciation in Botswana and for us to do that artists need to showcase extraordinary work for audiences to consume,” he said.

Bakwena also encouraged artists to work hard on their concept development.

“Concept development is very important. Sometimes one comes across artworks that are very good, but when you look at the concept development, the story just goes away,” indicated Bakwena.

The five artists responsible for This is my Story exhibition are Frank de Painter, Thato Khomela, Ditshupo Mogapi, Itumeleng Motswetla and Gosego Motlogelwa.

“In concept development, there should be a relationship like when reading a book. 

When you read a book there is introduction, body and conclusion. 

In an artwork, an artist is telling a story, an artist explains what is happening in our environment and social life etc and if you are an artist there should be an introduction, body and conclusion on whatever it is that you are telling us,” continued Bakwena.

He encouraged artists to give the right product to the people, adding that if artists wanted to play an active role in the economy and its diversification, they should put more effort into their production and delivering quality.

“I am always worried that our work is not penetrating the international market, and why is it so? 

We should sit back and ask these questions. Let us go back to the drawing board and see where we can improve,” he said.

Bakwena said one disadvantage may be that in Botswana we have less workshops and interactions aimed at improving and giving artists feedback.

He said artists should utilise the space at Thapong to hold critic sessions with their peers and interrogate one another on their various artworks, materials and concepts.

 “I encourage art lovers to come to Thapong and see these artworks and also buy them,” he concluded. 

The exhibition will go on for two weeks.

For his part, Frank de Painter thanked his fellow artists for collaborating with him on the This is my Story exhibition.

“All I can say is thank you and please pass on the message for people to come and see our artworks and support us. 

If people do not buy our work we starve and we cannot grow,” he said. END