Moilwa scoops Thapong Photographer of the Year award

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday November 11, 2010 00:00

This year's Thapong Artist of the Year award - which carries P20,000, went to photographer, Donald Moilwa.  This was not the first time that Moilwa entered the awards as he had several times before submitted entries, but with little success.  However, he never gave up and made it this time around with his picture of baked bunnies entitled Infusion.

The second prize of P15,000 went to Ditshopou Mogapi (painting).  The third best category (print-making) went to Moses Maarame.  The third prize carries a prize money of P12,000.

Roger Brown, of Maun, walked away with P4,500 for the Young Artist Award.   David Ditlhako scooped the newly introduced Graphic designer award, smiling all the way to the bank with a P3,500 cheque. 

The Media award was scooped by Ketshepile More of the government-owned Daily News who walked away with P4,000 while Gasebalwe Seretse of Mmegi took the second prize.  Seretse was presented with a P2,500 cheque for his efforts. 

One young artist, who had contested the competition, said for him it was not all about winning.  He said he gained much by merely 'rubbing shoulders' with veteran artists.  The young artist said he managed to learn something about art from the interactions. 

The coordinator of Thapong, Reginald Bakwena, said the awards were initiated in 2004 to acknowledge the contribution of artists.  He said the number of artists who have been contesting the awards has been increasing over the years.  He revealed that this year the awards attracted 82 artists. 

Bakwena said they have also been getting more sponsors for the awards.  Some of the organisations, which sponsored the prize money, were Collegium and European Union.  Other sponsors included Embassy of China, Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), Plascon, Republique Franaise, Department of Arts and Culture, Artswana, Botswana Visual Arts Association and Thapong. 

Bakwena also revealed that for next year a company has pledged to sponsor the overall winner for P50,000.

However, he said in future instead of the winners receiving cash prizes, they would be awarded art scholarships. 

Bakwena commended government for the support that they have been extending to Thapong.

One of the judges, Kentse Bogatsu, spoke briefly about what they were looking at.  One of the aspects that they were looking at was the visual aspect of the art piece.  They also considered the originality and whether the artists took their work seriously.  Bogatsu, who is also a renowned artist, said they also considered what were the societal issues that the artist was raising.

He said they also feel that each category should be given an award of some sort.  The judges would then select the overall winner from the winners of the categories.

Bogatsu said they also recommend that the competition be held biannually so that artists could have adequate time to prepare for the artists.  He said that way they would not submit sloppy work.  The panel of judges consisted of Bogatsu, veteran artist and arts lecturer, Abel Manatsha, Monica Banyana and Ben Sibanda. 

Officiating at the ceremony, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Shaw Kgathi, said the main objective is to acknowledge as well as recognise the contribution of the visual arts practitioners in the development of contemporary art in the country.    'It also provides a platform for networking and the exchange of ideas amongst visual artists.  This is a welcome development because it stimulates creativity through competition.'

Kgathi said the awards are geared towards honouring artists who have taken on the challenge to work very hard to improve themselves.  The awards, he said, are an appreciation of the time, hard work, dedication and creativity that artists put in the creation of their works.  'The artist's production has to be professional enough to influence other artists to work towards improving local production.  In addition, this is an opportunity for artists to demonstrate to other fellow artists that they can earn a living out of practice of art,' Kgathi said.

He added that the awards should ultimately promote competitiveness among artists and foster quality production of arts in the country.  'These are the hallmarks of a very vibrant traditional, which must be upheld,' he asserted.He noted that the 2010 Thapong Artist of the Year Awards was a valuable opportunity for artists to showcase their craftsmanship, talent and skills. 

Kgathi said the government considers Thapong as an important partner in the development of the visual arts in the country.  He said it was in recognition of this that his ministry and the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism have continued to be supportive of the centre.    He revealed that since 2007, National Museum and Art Gallery continues to provide an annual grant for payment of salaries for staff for the centre while the Department of Arts and Culture contributes towards the awards and as well as through capacity building for artists.  He said this was further strengthened by other technical and mutual support that other government structures continuously provide.

He urged Thapong Centre to continue to network and interact with other local and international partners for the growth of art and for stimulating the exchange of ideas.  He said the interaction will provide Thapong centre with a platform of not only being on the road to learn, but to draw the experience and allow other organisations to be involved in its activities. 

'I am informed that in 2009 Thapong organised a very successful SADC integration seminar in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat.  This seminar drew visual arts participants from the whole of the SADC region.'

Kgathi also called on artists to take cognisance of emerging structures such as the College of Applied Art at Oodi.  He said the University of Botswana (UB) has recently introduced the performing arts programme and will in future include visual arts in its schedule.  'Artists should take advantage of these structures to upgrade their artist skill,' he said.