Fine art photographer to shine at the world stage
Spira Tlhankane | Friday February 8, 2019 12:46
Leipego will be one of the 18,000 visitors, collectors, galleries, curators, artists and art journalists to attend this year’s instalment of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
Local and international visitors will see the work of more than 100 galleries and exhibitors from Africa and the rest of the world, which represents the forefront of the contemporary art world.
The talented photographer will be part of the artists from Guns & Rain gallery which has become one of South Africa’s most reputable emerging galleries, with an eye for spotting exciting new talent across the region as well as supporting artists from under-represented countries Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique.
Leipego together with other artists from countries like Mozambique will reflect continued focus on identity politics, plus a new spotlight on materiality and process. The gallery works with contemporary artists from five Southern African countries.
Leipego told Arts & Culture in an interview that it was a privilege to be part of the ICTAF as it is the largest Art fair in the Africa.
He said ICTAF has many opportunities to offer in the Contemporary Arts like creating a widely seen creative platform for the visual arts, which is accessible both internationally, regionally, and locally.
“Art lovers all over the world attend the Art Fair. I am very happy my work is reaching out to the world on a good pace, now my story is been told on another good platform,” he continued. Leipego added that since his last exhibition, he has been brainstorming, planning and researching more on his upcoming projects, which are not yet released but all still under construction.
“I am still happy that my earlier projects are still going strong as some of the artworks are still being presented on various platform,” he highlighted.
Leipego’s photography of life and work in the challenging, semi-arid conditions of rural Botswana is inspired by a deep curiosity about light. His work emphasises contrast, and a stylised manipulation of light and shadow. Leipego works slowly, investigating his surroundings and taking time to build connections with the people he depicts.
Through tricks of light and innovative composition strategies, he brings a revelatory tone to a style of ethnographic photography that has often been marred by a shadowy legacy, providing insights into both the everyday and the sacred.
Besides contemporary Art aficionados will gather for talks and live performances. According the fair website the panel “Curating in the 21st Century” will feature esteemed scholars and curators from diverse localities to unpack the state of exhibition-making today.
By progressing to new traditions it is hoped that emerging practitioners and collectors will begin to think more analytically about how the digital world impacts art.
Digital practices may be a powerful force in our everyday lives, yet in our context there has not been enough opportunity in the visual arts allowing practitioners from different strata to exhibit alongside one another.
While Leipego will be the only Motswana artist in the international spotlight, he will be hoping to incorporate the local scene into the international scene and make an impact at a prestigious event like ICTAF.