Why Thabiso chose fabric design

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Staff Writer | Friday June 7, 2013 00:00

 

Majority of us on a daily basis wear clothes with shapes and designs that give them that unique attraction. The shape printed on one's attire often symbolises their attachment to the art displayed yet for others it would be the colours that would make them choose a certain outfit.

So when Thabiso Tsholofelo temporarily abandoned metal sculpting to focus on this type of art, it appeared like an escape to a less difficult route yet its attraction was all around him.It is common knowledge that women are dominant in textile. Well, naturally they are a colourful species and easily get attracted to clothes of any kind. So when a man ditches what is otherwise regarded as a man's domain to focus on feminine stuff it becomes quite interesting.

'I had been doing sculpture before, creating objects that told different stories while at the same time touching on functional art. I used to design some artistic braai stands. It was something I like but I had to consider other factors like the market and discovered that I could use my other skills and make good money at the same time,' he said.

For four years now, Tsholofelo has been doing fabric painting and although he is yet to hit the summit, he is proud of his achievements so far.'This has been my livelihood and I have developed a big passion for it. It lets me be more creative at a less cost. It is not that it is not demanding in terms of creativity, it is only that one has some peace of mind working on this kind of piece,' Tsholofelo told Arts & Culture.

Indeed, Tsholofelo's creativity has not been hampered by this switch, as he continues to combine different elements to produce attractive pieces.Like many other artists, he tells different stories, expresses various emotions through his art.  For instance one of his pieces is an expression of his admiration of the various species of birds found in Botswana.

In the piece, a host of different birds are painted on different positions to give the piece a variation of colours and texture and because he always shares stories in his works, one of those birds is the African Hopoo, called Chibelu in Ikalanga.

'I am proud of my cultural background and Chibelu is my totem. I have always had some respect for this bird and the fact that it is a colourful one makes it even more appealing to me. It also relates easily with the human spices,' he said.

When Arts & Culture visited the young man at his studio inside the Thapong Arts Centre, he was busy with a pair of tekkies he was printing for a customer overseas.Applying his paint carefully, creating different images the young fellow turned a white shoe into a colourful piece illustrating his artistic skill. To make it even more interesting his name Thabiso, is cleverly integrated into the mix of colours as a designer signature.

'By the time I am done with it you will not be able to see the name from a distance,' he said.Last year, the young man won the Vision 2016 award for a 'Prosperous and Innovative Nation' pillar, something that should inspire him to strive for excellence in the field of textile.