30 May 2021

Thapong Visual Arts Centre coordinato, Regionald Bakwena has urged artists to see COVID-19 pandemic as an introspection phase that calls for them to up their creative and innovation skills.

He said this during Motlhala Solo exhibition held at Thapong Visual Arts Centre on Saturday featuring Ronald Kegomoditswe, who specialises in visual paintings

He said the exhibition was the third to be held this year.

The concept was coordinated by Obed Mokhuhlani, a member of Thapong Visual Arts, with the intention of giving other artists exposure.

“Every often different concepts are implemented  so as to motivate and give artists exposure and this month, we are at it again with Motlhala Solo Exhibition with the intention to give middle artist Kegomoditswe necessary exposure and through the exhibition he is also allowed to sell his artifacts for personal gain,” he said.

Bakwena said though the pandemic had left a negative trail in the creative sector, artists should not despair and feel discouraged, rather should continue to come up with innovative ways and change their mindset on how to accommodate and live with the pandemic.

A positive mind set, he said would enable artists to remain relevant in the arts circles amidst the COVID-19 challenges.

He implored artists to hold high the spirit of self-motivation so as to increase more innovative concepts and abilities to continue building up the creative industry, saying the industry holds a significant role on issues of job creation and economic diversification.

He further advised them to remain relevant and strive for content, saying without content it would be difficult for customers to relate and flow with the designed artifacts and all their artifacts would not serve any purpose.

Kegomoditswe appreciated the gesture, saying being a member of Thapong Visual Arts Centre had given him a milestone in his career growth, saying if it was not of team work that prevailed at the centre he could have not been able to execute his 25 wall hanging pieces he exhibited.

He said though he was academically gifted on art related matters, he felt the need to ask for relevant support and tactics from those who had long been in the field.

Kegomoditswe further emphasised the need to continue supporting and celebrating arts saying such would nurture and groom the talent that contributed well to nation building and the overall state of being well.

He said prior to the exhibition, he had two concepts that of Mofufutso wa phata and Motlhala that he asked Mokhuhlani to help develop, however he finally settled for Motlhala saying it was a way to express the path he travelled to finally emerge as a middle artist.

He said though it was not an easy journey but he was confident that all his efforts would bring him the desired results. ENDS