The exhibition, which is an initiative of registered members of Thapong led by Ray Gare, showcases the works of the artists. According to the coordinator, if artists unite and put their egos and differences aside, they will be able to make a major breakthrough in the tough industry.
"If you choose to be an individual artist, you lose out a lot. Whenever artists interact, they can advise each other and offer each other constructive criticism," he stressed.
The coordinator, who also happens to be a respected artist in his own right, continued to say that Thapong is working hard to create solid platforms for their artists to launch their careers.
According to Bakwena, Gare, the exhibition organiser had been revitalised and motivated after attending a residence programme sponsored by Thapong in Cape Town, South Africa, and when he returned he was energised enough to put together the exhibition which he (Bakwena) termed a great success.
Bakwena says that upcoming and well-established artists should not fear that being part of Thapong would compromise their artistic abilities and their uniqueness, pointing out that artists are there to empower one another.
The coordinator also believes that if artists are united, they can approach government with one, strong voice making it possible for the state to listen to them.
When quizzed if the centre caters for Gaborone-based artists only, the coordinator pointed out that there are many members of Thapong who are not based in Gaborone.
"As a matter of fact, our past consecutive Thapong Artist of The Year winners were outsiders. First it was Steven Diseko from Ramotswa and last year's winner was Otsetswe Bogosibokae of Palapye, who are both members," said Bakwena.
He also alluded to the fact that there are many Gaborone-based artists who are part of Thapong and yet they do not have studios at the centre.
Some of the artists who exhibited include Onkabetse Mpolokeng, Barnabas Ndudzo, Vivek Karmokar, Rantefe Mothebe, Reginald Bakwena and Wilson Nyoni, among others.
Karmokor uses acrylic on paper and his works are both captivating and pleasing to the eye. One of his pieces, strangely called BW Series IV, portrays a nude woman striking a pose that will leave art lovers wishing to have it as part of their collection.
One of the artworks that cannot escape the eye of a discerning art-lover is Barnabas Ndudzo's piece of a naked hunter holding a spear, which is unfortunately not labelled. The piece vividly shows that the Botswana-based Zimbabwean is a leader among his peers and is rightfully the patriarch of most sculptors based at Thapong.
Not to be left behind, the veteran artist Rantefe Mothebe showcased his work aptly named Lelwapa that will definitely take many down memory lane back to the days before modernity and decadence encroached on the lives of Batswana. The work depicts members of a typical Tswana community going about their daily traditional chores.
Wilson Nyoni's pieces have a spiritual tone to them. When one interprets them, he or she cannot help being taken on a spiritual journey. His 'Ancestral Guidance' depicts some loincloth-clad hunters standing over a waterfall and looking down at an antelope at the bottom of the fall. Can it be said that the antelope is the creature providing ancestral guidance to the hunters? Will the hunters be able to interpret the language of the ancestors or are they just interested in killing the poor animal for its meat?
Masimo, Reginald Bakwena's abstract work captures a scene at ploughing fields that will also like Mothebe's Lelwapa make lovers of traditional way of life remember the 'good all days'.
Well-known women potters Keabetswe Kanasi and Dintle Mogaleemang also showcased a number of their works.
Bakwena believes that Thapong artists have reached a golden era where their works are becoming more and more appreciated. He went on to say that the increasing number of art-lovers who flock to their exhibitions at Thapong is a sign that there are good times ahead for artists.
"This is really motivating us to work hard to improve our market and upcoming artists should take advantage of that and jump onto the wagon," he pointed out.
The coordinator says that he has an open-door policy and artists interested in becoming part of Thapong should feel free to drop in at his office any time. He also thanked Mascom for sponsoring the event.
The exhibition runs from May 29 till June 13.
