10 Nov 2013

His sister’s connection to a charity foundation came as a blessing to him.

He is now in Gaborone and training at Thapong Visual Arts Centre. Tumediso Keolopile of Kaudwane in Letlhakeng Sub-district has been on an art training course, thanks to the Leopard Ecology Foundation.

The foundation is a non-governmental organisation that assisted in poverty eradication and had located Tumediso’s sister through her project - a backyard garden that she survived on. The Leopard Ecology Foundation project coordinators had at one point came over to Tumediso’s house to check over his sister’s project and they found him busy drawing.

They developed an interest in what he was designing and they consequently purchased the drawing. Not only did they purchase the drawing. They continued to make more purchases from him as a way of exploring his drawing skills further.

To get more from this skilled artist, the Leopard Ecology connected Tumediso with the Thapong, where he will be resident for three months, equipping himself with knowledge of his subject. In an interview, Tumediso said his lessons with reputable resident artists at the centre were of great benefit to his artistic talent.

“I am gaining a lot of knowledge and expertise on arts as I do not only use my hand now, but learn the machine used in designing art works,” he said with a smile on his face. Tumediso is learning new art skills such as painting, print making as well as fabric dying.

He is looking forward to finishing the course in December and going back to his home village, and take not only his village, but the entire district by storm marketing his art products. He said that he is hopeful that his talent will continue to bring bread to the table as there are a lot of tourists visiting his area and are interested in purchasing unique art works.

The art works he has so far reflect that wild kind of life, probably because he is of the San origin and has explored such a kind of life in Kaudwane and the surrounding areas. “I have grown to love life in the wild and have lived closely with wild animals and therefore, every time I put pencil to paper, I always come up with drawing that depict wildlife and animal survival,” he said.

He said since he started at Thapong Visual Arts Centre he does not only focus on wildlife alone but, can now paint everything that he sets his eyes on.  His tutor, Maaramele Moses said he was happy with the enthusiasm that Tumediso has shown and that he had been able to grasp a lot of what he was taught.

Moses said Tumediso is one shining example among many who have artistic talents and go all out to learn the skills and master them. For his part, Thapong Visual Arts Centre coordinator, Reginald Bakwena said the centre’s mandate is to empower the youth in any way possible.

He said artistic talent, when nurtured and grown can bring success to an individual’s life. He said the training of Tumediso is just one of the many youths that have passed through the hands of the centre’s resident artist. Many are now successful and have since proved to be a force to reckon with in the arts industry.

He said he was looking forward to training more youths who are eager to learn art techniques and use them for their self-empowerment. Ends