Challenging the perceptions of art
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Sunday October 30, 2022 06:00
The use of cardboard box in art print dates back to olden times, but it has been somewhat abandoned overtime due to the emergence of the much-fancied and perhaps westernised media such as painting canvass.
However, that could change following a recent cardboard printmaking workshop Masterclass at Thapong Visual Arts Centre led by Namibian legendary visual artist, Josef Madisia.
Madisia was in Botswana together with his wife on a two-week visit at the invitation of Empire Arts Consultancy, a local art management company. The Masterclass workshop was followed by an exhibition by several participants of the workshop, which included local artists and art students from different local schools.
The exhibition is currently on display at Thapong Visual Arts Centre. Following the workshop, Mmegi caught up with the veteran visual artists who spoke about a variety of topics ranging from his personal work, the workshop and the state of art in Botswana. “Art permeates all aspects of human life. From everything that we do, see and love such as cars and clothes, they are all the work of a designer who uses art,” said Madisia.
He said art could become even easier and efficient with the use of cardboard print, a much cheaper material. According to him, the whole idea of cardboard printmaking is to challenge the perceptions of art by creating even the most elaborate and multiple art pieces from cardboard; a rather known throwaway material.
For Madisia, the benefits of cardboard printmaking are just too many to ignore. “We were made to believe and adopt the westernised ways that these materials such as canvass are better than cardboard, but I want that to change so that artists are aware that they could actually get the best out of cardboard, a far cheaper material,” he said. Born in 1954, Madisia said his passion for the arts had been nurtured from an early age. Being a Christian, he was inspired by biblical scenes which he wanted to draw but with better quality. While he also ventured into other art forms and mediums, at one point he decided to just go with cardboard printmaking. "For me coming back to the media of printmaking was due to financial constraints. He said as one of the ancient medium, it was widely accepted even in Botswana.
It is a very important medium, because it allows artists to make multiples without being stretched. Painting, you can only make one painting piece, which could belong to one collector and be hidden away while with cardboard it can be enjoyed by many people across galleries," he added. He said cardboard could be cut into wood for sculpture.
He said it is relatable and has African roots, which also makes it easy for him to do intricate pieces. He said the whole idea of the workshop is to revive the use of printmaking, which could be the next big medium for upcoming artists in Botswana. He thanked the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC) for their contribution in making the exhibition a reality.
Being here as a legend, he said the idea is to share ideas, information and skills to develop the level of art in the region. He said he has been very impressed with the enthusiasm shown by the participants of the workshop as well as the exhibition as it shows that they are eager to change the way they do things. Among participants were students, whom he said would share the experience they gained from the workshop and exhibition with their mates at their schools. “I have visited schools here in Botswana and have realised that the primary and secondary level are very well covered which makes the experience much better,” he said.