Aldo Brincat's Ma Rock exhition opens

By Sasa Majuma
Correspondent | Monday November 5, 2012 00:00

 

Aldo Brincat, local dramatic arts teacher, first at Maru a Pula and now Westwood High School entertained along with a couple of dozen of stars in his first ever photographic exhibit, Curio(us), at Octagon at the National Museum of Botswana on Saturday night.

The formal black suit evening introduced a show of nearly four-dozen black and white photographs by Aldo Brincat featuring Botswana's Ma Rock heavy metal cowboys. Seventeen Ma Rock heavy metal cowboys and one Ma Rock cowgirl graced the show. During the opening they came marching, growling, stomping and undulating into the Octagon much to the surprise and entertainment of the guests.

Dr Kelone Khudu-Petersen, an instructor in art education in the Department of Primary Education at the University of Botswana officially opened the exhibit. Monica Selelo, Head of Visual Arts at the National Museum gave the vote of appreciation. She was enthusiastic about the exhibition.  For those who wish to learn more about the exhibit Tefo Omphile Paya of the Maru a Pula School drama department will conduct a  'walkabout' of the exhibit this Friday the 9th of November at 7pm in the Octagon Gallery.

There is more here to see than meets the eye. The large photographs, unframed and mounted on plain wood, are not only in black and white, but they are presented against a background of large sheets of black plastic and feature men in black leather with tooling and designs, poised in unexpected settings and embracing chains, bones and stones.  One line of photographs repeats variations of a theme and is mounted on chains and can oscillate like a pendulum-or is it a battering ram?

Aldo Brincat said that he first met the Ma Rock heavy metal cowboys in Tlokweng seven years ago. Earlier this year he re-established his friendship with them and this led to this show. He learned that there may be as many as 1,500 Ma Rock heavy metal cowboys in Botswana. He was intrigued by their vigour, their energy, and their comradeship. They like leather and symbols, but do not have an antisocial reputation like some bikers and Hells Angels do elsewhere in the world.

Aldo Brincat is an accomplished theatre arts innovator. He has had a number of major productions in Gaborone this year, including dramatic productions and The Passion Play at The Hills of Music at Rasesa at Easter 2012. He is  also an accomplished magician in more ways than one.

The photographs are  for sale with the proceeds going to the Ma Rock Trust Fund to further their activities. Time will tell how many are sold.