Mokopane �affects eternity�
Thato Kala | Friday May 23, 2014 12:57
The passionate ex-educator now draws his inner strength from seeing his former students carry on and do well in the neglected art industry after school. Just seeing this has helped him soldier on.
While he prides himself in that, his work has transformed a considerable number of buildings in the country and sold overseas, but his source of joy is seeing his former students making strides.
Surprisingly, he did not study art, but has a long list of budding artists who passed through his hands.
“I have a couple of former students who are in tertiary school at the moment studying art-related courses,” he says.
While others are still trying to carve their niche in the industry, the likes of Fikile Mabula, Frank Mabotowe, Teto Keegope, Karabo, Khwezi, Katlego and Duncan have made significant strides in various sections of the arts.
He says Khwezi and Duncan have done reasonably well in their art careers, while Mabula has established himself and landed international opportunities.
“It is something I am proud of when I see them succeeding. I am really honoured and consider it a great privilege to have had input in their careers,” he says.
An ardent Christian, he says his is a God-given talent bestowed solely for the purpose of teaching others.
“I have to impart it and when I see them doing well I am happy because the industry is growing,” Mokopane says.
Interestingly, he reveals when he started working with some of these artists, art was regarded as a subject for people who could not do well in other learning areas.
“But we sat down and I made them understand how broad art was. They would see me doing my work, I would give them a platform to critic my work, we were a team. I didn’t let them work while just supervising,” he explains.
A good number of works that his students watched him make were bought locally, while others were sold online.
Some of Mokopane’s works hang on the walls of Botswana National Archives, Botswana Telecommunications Authority (Spectrum House in Phakalane), Botswana Telecommunications Corporation, Department of Civil Aviation, Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, First National Bank Botswana Foundation, Tertiary Education Council as well as the Department of Arts and Culture.
Mokopane has also had some of his works bought by a Cypriot while some are works are hanging on some walls as far as Ireland, America, China and South Africa.
As they say, once a teacher, always a teacher – Mokopane is still working with some of his students with the vision to start a mini-gallery.
The idea is to sell crafts and other artworks done by the country’s renowned artists through a mobile gallery.
He also wants to reach out to the European market, especially with the crafts.
“Only tourists who visit the country buy our art, but I believe there is a way to reach out to the outside market,” he says.
Mokopane enjoys the challenge of crafting something out of his very own imagination.
When he developed a passion for art, he dug into the history of abstract art and found Picasso and Braque as sources of inspiration.
He confesses that the kind of work they were producing captivated him.
The 32-year-old artist, a firm believer in the magic of hues, describes colour as one crucial element that can tell an artwork apart.
He says unlike most artists whose works easily convey messages, some of his works may not be easy to read meaning.
The Hugh Masekela fanatic says none of his pre-work meditations ever come out perfectly and attributes his final pieces to Godly wisdom.
Having worked as a teacher for five years, he points out that the art syllabus at schools limits students with merely a liking towards art.
The Mahalapye-born artist singles out his painting that depicted a traditional clay pot as his best work so far. That particular piece was sold to the Cypriot tourist in 2010.
His vision is to own an academy of modern arts that will groom young people from all backgrounds.
He has won awards that include the MCE Annual Mass Exhibition first prize and the Central Region Art Teachers Exhibition top prize in 1999. He also came third in the Thapong Artist of the Year in 2008.
Mokopane has participated in over 15 exhibitions and collects various crafts and basketry to market through his company.
Most of his works are done on commission. He is working on a project to teach art in prisons. He also runs mobile studios.
During his spare time, he relaxes with family and does a lot of meditation. He enjoys traditional dishes like papa, morogo and beef.