25 Feb 2020

Botswana women in the arts industry will hold an exhibition, themed Difficult Women billed for the National Museum main gallery from March 10 to April 11.

The exhibition will feature six of Botswana’s foremost contemporary women artists, who will display a body of thought, provoking and visually  stunning new artwork.

The exhibition will be held annually with sole purpose of promoting women in the creative industry.

 In an interview, the event organiser, Renee Eisen-Khonat and also one of the six exhibitors, said the exhibition was a response to a need she saw in the art scene for women, who were yearning to be seen and be heard more often through their artwork.

“And as an art practitioner and trainer, I am often tasked with facilitating workshops and adjudicating competitions for drawing and painting,” she said.

She added that usually poor presentation of women in some segments contributed to women not doing well, hence the need to address it by organising an all- women exhibition.

Eisen-Khonat further said discussing why there was still a blatant disparity in the arts more especially here in Botswana, would begin to mobilise and inspire more female artists to hone and exhibit their craft.

Eisen-Khonat said women, who were invited to participate in the show, were some of the most seasoned and established professional artists in Botswana.

The work to be displayed varies and rich in imagery and symbolism.
It ranges from paintings on canvas and wood, prints and watercolours on paper, to fibre, installations, photography and Kate Kwati will be doing performance art, she said.

The organiser further explained that the theme, Difficult Women speaks to a position they were taking and as well as a ‘social label’ they were challenging of being labelled differently to men who do the same.

The exhibitors are Eisen-Khonat, Neo Matome, Ann Gollifer, Sedireng Mothibatsela, Veryan Edwards and Kwati and they have been key contributors to the art scene and creative industries in Botswana in various capacities over the past 20 years.

The opening will feature two guest speakers; Botswana’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Day ambassador, Gomolemo Madikgetla and esteemed women’s rights activist, Ntombi Setshwaelo. ENDS