19 Feb 2014

Kago Kgaboetsile is the winner of the inaugural Lora Arts Expression Contest expo held over the weekend at Thapong Arts Centre as he walked away with P10 000.

Speaking at the prize giving ceremony, Rosy Sbrana, director of Lora Arts and organiser of the competition, said that was the first art competition of its kind that embraced technology.

“We uploaded art pieces in social networks and people voted for their favorite art pieces and they chose Kago as the ultimate winner,” she said. She indicated that she was impressed with the growth of art in Botswana and initiatives such as the weekend competition were the right way to go.

Ms Sbrana said she also hoped the competition grew not only in Botswana but it should also include other Southern African artists.

She also said artists needed to embrace technology and use it to their advantage and to advance themselves to be recognised worldwide.

“Technology is an interactive tool and as such artists can use it to gauge themselves and also market their work,” she said.

The arts enthusiast said besides promoting local art, she was also an artist who dealt in interactive media design and visual arts.

“Art is important and the people who do it should be supported and encouraged to express themselves and I would like to thank the department of arts and culture as well as Impression House for helping us with this event,” she concluded. ENDS