18 Jul 2024

Zimbabwean visual artist, Batsirai Muskwe, says Botswana art has potential to reach international market, however, there is need to do more research. 

Muskwe has been in Botswana for two months, purposely for art residency at the Thapong Visual Arts Centre. A contemporary mixed media artist, Muskwe said art was dynamic and seasonal, therefore artists need to know what the international markets were calling for.

 “I have seen some good art works by Batswana. I recently attended the regional National Arts Festival competition and there is potential for international market,” Muskwe said, advising the local artists to do their research more if they wished to reach international market.

 A self-taught artist, who has been passionate about art since his high school days, Muskwe said the art residency was an empowering initiative. 

“I have made some prints which are inspired by Botswana baskets, something I would never have made if I was home,” he said. 

Muskwe said there was a good culture of prints in Botswana, relishing on the Kuru Art, which he recently experienced at the National Art and Basket competition. 

During his two months stay in Botswana, Muskwe has been interacting with artists and has also conducted a two-day workshop with one printmaker who extended interest to learn more on prints. 

As part of his residency, he will hold an Art Talk on July 23, as well as an exhibition, which will be a collaboration with Uhuru Kgope on July 25 at the Thapong Visual Art Centre. 

Meanwhile, the coordinator of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, Reggie Bakwena, said the exchange programmes were ideal  as they enabled skills and knowledge sharing. 

“Botswana contemporary art is struggling and these residencies influence the environment where we are now able to be comfortable in the way we play around with our contemporary style,” Bakwena said. 

He said the programmes also enabled locals to define their art in such a way that it matched international standards and markets. 

Muskwe collaborating with Kgope for an exhibition would give Botswana art a profile and elevate the standard of art in the country.

 He also said with his international background, he would be able to engage with local artists and mentor them how to get opportunities abroad. ENDS