An artist�s world is limitless
Chippa Legodimo | Friday July 18, 2014 11:43
Listening to young artist Oosi Phillip Boitseng talk about art and how he sees it in every object that he comes across in his daily life, one is quickly reminded of Strand’s words. A closer look at his artworks further confirms Strand’s assertions because the Moshupa artist uses natural resources and paints to create good art pieces that boast rich and balanced colors.
While growing up in Moshupa, the young man would admire the vegetation and climb up the rocks in search of adventure with his peers. He was not crazy about art then but as he grew older, a deeper sense of the craft was revealed.
“I was not that much of an artist at first but by the time I reached junior secondary school, I had developed a good sense for art. I drew landscape pieces, animals and so forth,” he told Arts & Culture. He got good marks in the subject and showed good potential, but once he reached senior secondary level his interest waned and he failed the subject. But the artist in him was still alive and soon he was dipping his brush in his soul and he started producing some magnificent decorative pieces.
“I tried to run away from art, but I failed because often I would feel the urge to do something and when I tried I would end up with pieces that I never imagined,” he said.
Since his love for art returned, the former Diratsame and Moshupa Secondary School student has created some intriguing pieces.
Because he often ‘sees’ art around him, Boitseng is fascinated by simple things like leaves, small insects and feathers. Recently, while herding the family’s stock heading to the stream he found a dead porcupine that was killed by a hyena. That potentially provided ready-to-cook meat, but his imagination ran wild at the sight of the dead animal’s quills.
The young man has created a mosaic piece using the quills and crushed tree rhytidome. Several of his pieces combine painting and a mosaic of various materials. Boitseng’s poor grades deprived him of a chance to pursue art at tertiary level. However, he opted for a course that allows him to express himself artistically.
“I am studying to become an Advertising Designing agent right now. I still do art pieces that I sell to anyone interested. The field I have chosen still gives me a chance to use my creativity and express myself,” he said.
Although he enjoys doing decorative pieces, Boitseng says he would rather have another artist’s work hanging on his wall.