15 Jun 2022

 Bantshwanetse Kebalepile, Botswana Travel and Tourism Art Exhibition first prize winner is proof that visual art creativity is not limited to only men.

The 30-year-old Gaborone based visual artist scooped P10 000 at the tourism art exhibition competition held at Thapong Visual Art Centre. Second prize of P5 000 was awarded to Ronnie Mongwaketse whilst Gofaone Thebeetsile’s Botswana Baskets scooped third place and P2 500.

Kebalepile’s winning mixed media artwork,  titled Weaving the Future, was made with acrylic paints and charcoal. She used the famed Mr Cobra to deliver and communicate the theme of the exhibition, Culture and Tourism Inspired Art Works.

“I used the famous Mr Cobra as I believe he is best placed for our culture and tourism, as well as conveying the role of indigenous knowledge fundamentals to the society,” she said. She said there was need for unity between community and society as both harboured vast knowledge.

“Mr Cobra is also a perfect symbol and representation of indigenous knowledge,” she said. The art exhibition is part of a build up to the Botswana Travel and Tourism awards to be hosted by Re Mmogo Youth Organisation over the weekend at Gaborone International Convention Centre.

According to the director of Botswana Travel and Tourism Awards Kagiso Morebodi, an open call was made nationwide for youths aged 18-35 to partake in the art exhibition, which was held in collaboration with Thapong Visual Arts centre.

“Thapong Visual Arts centre are custodians of visual arts and we saw it fit to engage and partner with them to make this project a success,” he said. Morebodi said the initiative intended to revive visual arts following COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the aim was to partner with young and new artists in various ways to create artworks to empower them more and also as a way of introducing them to the market.

He said the exhibition, though prizes had been awarded, would run during the ceremony billed this Saturday. “These artworks will be showcased to the market at the awards, and some of them will be purchased and others given market platforms regionally or internationally,” Morebodi said.

Thapong Visual Arts Centre coordinator Reggie Bakwena advised artists to improve on clarity of the theme given, creativity and authenticity, quality and impression as well as craftsmanship. He said such were elements to be looked into when judging artwork in a competition, adding that artists needed to pay more attention to such details.

Bakwena applauded the Re Mmogo Youth Organisation partnership with Thapong Visual Arts centre saying such initiatives added value to artists’ crafts as well as created platforms for artists to interact with the community and stakeholders.

“An initiative such as this one will also enhance career development for our artists,” he said. He said the success of a visual artist came from interaction with community and the businesses.

He said as the National Arts Festival, previously known as President’s Day Competitions drew near and Thapong Artist of the Year awards later in the year, initiatives and collaborations such as these would sharpen artists’ craftsmanship and improve their art quality as they prepare for the national art competitions.

Bakwena further encouraged artists to venture into sculpting, explaining that painting had been dominant over the years therefore artists needed to give consumers and art lovers variety. ENDS