09 Oct 2013

Art works by some students from local schools have found their way into the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The art works created by students from various schools across the city, the University of Botswana and Stepping Stones Charity organisation will be on display in the City of Gold until October 12.

This was made possible by the collaboration between a local organisation, House of Yielding Fine Arts for Youth and the Canadian based Art for Aids International.

House of Yielding Fine Arts director, Nono Ndwapi had a lot going on in her life. She wanted to communicate her feelings.  Being passionate about art, and possessing the artistic talent within her, she knew art was the remedy.

It all worked out for her and knowing that she was not all alone in this, she looked out to other youths within her vicinity and reached out to them. Nono formed an organization which assists youth to deal with and overcome the challenges they face in life.

In June this year, she contacted Art for Aids International and together they reached out to secondary school going youths in Gaborone, the University of Botswana students as well as members of Stepping Stones Charity organization.

In dealing with issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, the workshop ended with participants creating art works that were this Friday exhibited at Thapong Visual Arts center.

The workshop was paving way for the upcoming exhibition in South Africa.The art works which were done through collage on canvas carried various messages that showed hope, self-esteem, passion, and confidence among others.

Art for Aids International founder, Hendrikus Bervoets said his organization was formed to help children affected by HIV/AIDS. Bervoets said he is hopeful that through his organization he will make a difference in creating awareness on the need to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

He said he used art as a way of communicating feelings and have had phenomenal responses from viewers of his art works. “My aim is to deal more with the element of hope, by dealing with the discomfort of talking about HIV/AIDS, especially among the youth”, he said.

His intention, he said, is to talk about insecurities, and all the other challenges among the youth. Bervoets said he still believes that self-respect and true caring and feeling comfortable among one another and creating a more comfortable society that feels proud to exist is so possible and he captures these through his art.

For his part, Thapong Visual Art Center’s Reginald Bakwena said he was thankful that there are concepts that kept cropping up to utilise the art center, especially by the youth. Bakwena encouraged other members of the center never to shy away from coming up with initiatives aimed towards the benefit of the arts industry in the country.

“At Thapong, we allow people to be creative and we are proud at the center to work with Art for Aids International in the fight against the spread of the virus”, he said. Ends