Gasebalwe Seretse
14 March 2008
Gaborone — Scores of artists, parents and art-lovers gathered at Thapong Visual Arts Centre last Friday to witness the opening of a two-week exhibition by 37 students from three top private schools in Gaborone.
The participating schools are Westwood, Rainbow and Maruapula. Students in the performing arts from the three schools spiced up the opening evening with drama and music.
The organisers of the exhibition say it is a show of selected works bearing testimony to the high expectations of the art departments of the three schools. They say the experimental nature of many of the work has a significant effect on the show, which is both a glorious visual experience and an influential and interesting body of works for any artist. One of the outstanding artists among the students is Berlene Loubser whose Pitsa, Leso Le Lefetlho, Ntlo, Mantlo a Setswana, Wind Pompe and Op die Plaas would rival works of a professional. Loubser's artworks are ready to be mounted because they are already framed.
Romie Sciscio's two untitled drawings depicting an old man and praying hands are some of the artworks to watch at the exhibition. The artist has shown a lot of maturity in the pieces and it is hard to believe they are works of a student. Another artist with good works is Yihe Liu whose In The Spotlight, Innocence and Artist's Memories are simply exquisite. The young artist chose beautiful frames for the pieces that complement them well. Nombuso Chiliza has mounted an interesting piece using multi-media. The amazing work comprises dried chicken feet and a large and scented candle glued on a cloth-covered frame. The eye-catching piece might get art lovers talking till the end of the exhibition. Marije Mijovic's untitled work is another attraction. Like Louber and Sciscio, Miljovic has shown a sense of maturity in her artwork.
An abstract series of artworks namely, We Know More Than We Should by Samara Lubbe is very engaging and thought-provoking. It is safe to assume that it was the artist's intention to stir the mind. Meanwhile there are some pieces that are disappointing at the exhibition from students at the three elite schools. Is it because the students did not have enough time to prepare? Anyway art-lovers should remember that the young artists are not yet professionals and are still nurturing their talent. Maruapula art teacher and one of the show organisers, Steve Jobson said that the three schools hope to hold the exhibition at Thapong on an annual basis. He is impressed by the works currently displayed at the exhibition calling them 'excellent'. Jobson together with fellow teachers Erica Hibbert, Sedireng Mothibatsela, Zane Lang, Vivek Karmokar and Nigel Dunmore helped the students to prepare for the exhibition.
The coordinator of Thapong, Reginald Bakwena urged government schools to emulate the three private schools and approach Thapong for a slot to host exhibitions. "We are committed to developing the arts at grassroots level in Botswana, so we are eager to help young artists regardless of where they come from," he said.
He has noted with concern that unlike private schools, government schools are reluctant to approach the centre for help and this is regrettable.
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