30 Jul 2024

Art residencies are an important part of an artist’s journey, Thapong Visual Arts Centre board chairperson, Mesh Moeti has said.

Moeti, who was speaking at Thapong Visual Arts centre Breaking Boundaries art exhibition by Zimbabwean artist Batsirai Muskwe and Botswana’s Uhuru Kgope recently, said through residency programmes artists interacted and worked with various artists from across the world which in the end afforded artists an opportunity to reflect, research and produce ‘a new body of work that they would have not been able to produce in their familiar environment.’

“We believe that residency programmes should be able to attract artists from everywhere in the world, as we believe in the universality of art,” Moeti said. Breaking Boundaries exhibition is a bright and different art styles showcase by two renowned international artists.

Kgope brought out his eye catching colourful and unique pieces depicting present day way of life and beautiful landscapes paintings. 

Muskwe, a contemporary painter inspired by Botswana culture, brought out the beauty of Botswana in basket prints as well as paintings.  He explored various art cultures and experimented with different materials from Thapong centre which led him to produce work inspired by Botswana.

His style is a fusion of traditional African art with mediums, including canvas, paper, board, printing and sculptures. 

His work features African masks, landscapes and abstract with vibrant bright colours.

In an interview,  founder and creative director at College of Creative Arts-Africa Bulawayo Clifford Zulu, said he was in the country for the exhibition as well as to scout fresh talent for the coming Bulawayo Art Fair slated for September.

“Botswana art is a work in progress, and they need to be visible as they are missing at international platforms. And part of our partnership with Thapong centre is to have inter working relationships so that we can see some Batswana artist coming to and showcasing in Zimbabwe as well as network,” Zulu said.

Zulu said through the partnership they hoped to increase visibility of Batswana and Zimbabwean artists at an international level. 

He said the Bulawayo Art Fair would  give Batswana artists a four-day showcase opportunity along with others from Zimbabwe.  He said whilst in Botswana for a week, they would be visiting different art studios to scout for new talent. 

“Once we scout for the relevant context of the fair, we will communicate with artists and facilitate the movement of art works and the artist to Bulawayo,” said Zulu adding that the fair is curated.

Sharing her impressions in an interview, one art collector Sara Schwanke-Khilji said she was impressed by Kgope’s art. 

“His first piece, a big beautiful portrait with a smile caught my attention. I think it captures so much joy, and I also loved his ocean landscape portrait, maybe because I grew up next to the ocean and it reminded me of home,” she said.

She added that she attended the exhibition partly because her daughter Aida is an aspiring artist who wishes to exhibit her work. 

Schwanke-Khilji said she brought her daughter to the exhibition for her to appreciate how professionals prepare for exhibitions. Ends