Thapong hosts Arts and Craft Flea Market

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Sunday April 3, 2022 09:28

 

Thapong hosts Arts and Craft Flea Market

The centre held the event, which saw over 35 artists’ submissions in partnership with Business Botswana.

Although there were varieties of disciplines on display, the exhibition was dominated by painting with artworks mediums such as acrylic on canvass, abstract and oil on canvass.

Other disciplines which were submitted and shone during the exhibition include photography, sculpture and installation.

The exhibition also saw some of the reputable artists such as 2019 Thapong Artist of The Year Award (TAYA) winner, Phenyo Moatlhodi who specialises in sculpture, Villas Ndaba and Boikanyo Seroba Gabathuse among some of the finest artists participants.

According to Thapong Visual Arts Centre director, Reginald Bakwena, the exhibition was meant to revive the artists’ spirit following the pandemic.

“This was just to build up that spirit after the pandemic. They (artists) are a bit down. Their morale is dented. You can even see with the low number of submissions, which we understand because of the COVID-19. Artists don’t have money to buy materials, but I appreciate the fact that they are not just idling doing nothing. Remember, art is also therapy,” said Bakwena.



Bakwena also said the exhibition was an opportunity for artists to interact with each other. For those that are new, it was also an opportunity to learn from the experienced ones how to develop their artistic talent into careers.

“Some of them are new people. They want to build up career out of art. We encourage them to build up social media platforms to showcase their stuff there and discuss it,” he said.

Bakwena explained that the exhibition saw varieties in terms of disciplines, including some installation, which only appears during the Thapong Artist of the Year Award.

He said installation is one of the not so prominent disciplines, so the exhibition was good in that respect.



“We also put in work of some of the senior artists, for the young artists to see and be encouraged by their work. We hope that this builds them up," he added.

Bakwena also stated that the exhibition was dominated by painting because it is one of those disciplines taught at school.

As such, he said other disciplines suffer because of this.

Bakwena also encouraged their members to prepare for the upcoming President’s Day Competitions, that make a return this year after a two-year hiatus.