Botswana in Brown's 'un-tinted' lense

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Staff Writer | Friday August 17, 2012 00:00

 

It also showed how the environment could inspire great interest from a visitor while the inhabitants might not find it fascination at all.

One of the big paintings, an oil on canvas piece of a big elephant standing next to two black rhinos. Another interesting piece depicts women going about their daily chores while village boys look after livestock in a rural set up.  Explaining the theme of the exhibition - Botswana Through My Eye, Brown said: 'That is exactly the way I see Botswana, especially the rural parts of the country where wildlife is in abundance.'

Born in Zimbabwe 26 years ago, Brown grew up in South Africa but migrated to Botswana in 1999, to Maun where he has been residing ever since.Although he was not artistic as a child, Brown might have been greatly inspired by his 'new surroundings'.

'Many people, especially those living in urban areas do not get the chance to see these simple things like wild animals moving freely alongside humans. I am telling stories of such life to those who do not get a chance to see these things unfold like myself,' Brown told Arts & Culture.

According to Brown, the simple lifestyle of many Batswana in remote areas can be quite interesting and can inspire a lot of artistic impressions. 'You see these people go about their daily business freely, believing in simple concepts and you just find yourself putting it down in artwork,' he said. Though he still regards himself as a novice, Brown has already exhibited at the famous David Shepard art exhibition.

He did not win anything but was motivated when his paintings made it on the online exhibition.  'I submitted in January and was very excited to realise that one of my pieces was accepted for an online exhibition. That was an achievement for me because my painting was one of the 58 that were chosen from thousands that were sent from across the world,' he said with a sense of satisfaction.This has motivated him to try again for the 2013 edition and he is positive about making a major breakthrough.