24 Apr 2025

Thapong Visual Arts Centre coordinator, Reginald Bakwena has strongly condemned visual arts plagiarism as an act that could damage artists’ reputation and credibility as well as lead to copyright infringements with possible legal action and other consequences.

He thus cautioned artists not to imitate, trace or appropriate other people’s work saying, “that is their creative process and you need their attribution and consent to use their work. Therefore, always engage them whenever you want to use any piece of their work in yours.”

Bakwena was speaking at the opening of Thapong members exhibition on Wednesday, at Thapong where he advised artists to familiarise themselves with copyright laws and legalities around visual arts and urged them to always reference any elements of another artist in their work and to be authentic.

Art is a diversification of economic growth from which many countries benefit, Bakwena said.

The Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis Creative Study of 2019 indicates that the creative sector contributes five per cent of the country’s GDP and Bakwena urged the private and parastatal sectors to support the creatives for them to do more.

With such support, Bakwena reckons Botswana can develop monument parks and more art centres for economic growth and also pride in the country’s cultural identity.

Thapong members exhibition, a networking platform that acknowledges and contributes to artists’ individual livelihood, by marketing their work embraces professional and developing artists.

The two-week exhibition has attracted 38 exhibitors with 100 art works and features Oodi Weavers as special guest artists.

Meanwhile, visual artist maestro, Wilson Ngoni told BOPA that the exhibition had advanced in the visual art space, with pleasing quality from artists.

He said he noticed some of his influence in other artists’ work. “The subject matter is patriotic, it is showcasing Botswana well and it is very African,” Ngoni said adding that painting was the future.

He advised artists to be generous with paint lest their work came out pale.

Ngoni said he was open to assisting fellow artists improve their craft. ENDS