In light of Botswana’s rich history and the cultural metamorphosis of its landscape and its people, a collective of visual artists will unveil their new works on April 29 at Linnaeus, Sanitas Tea Garden.
Under the theme: “How We See Botswana”, the exhibition will give a glimpse into the experiences, identity and culture facets of Batswana, through the eyes of artists, says event coordinator and resident artist, Ann Gollifer.
Gollifer, whose work often depicts her fascination with culture, language and the politics of identity, says the new works explore various themes.
“The central theme that brings the works of Sylvetser Mmoloki and myself together is the shared experience of living and working in Botswana.
“We thought that it would be interesting to see how the differing circumstance and experience impacted on our artwork. With the addition of Thina Dube from Johannesburg, the dialogue was extended to include an artist from beyond our borders.
“The resulting gathering of disparate images is sure to make this exhibition an exciting experience in terms of its visual and conceptual impact,” she explains.
“My artwork hopes to draw attention to the importance of trying to understand through an inspection of histories both individual and communal. It is an acknowledgement and memorial to all that has been lost,” she adds.
Featured works include paintings and prints by two young Batswana Artists: Sylvester Koweno and Mmoloki Timpa, including works in progress by Gollifer and their guest Dube.
The exhibition will also include an interactive dialogue between the artists and the audience. “Each artist will give a brief presentation on what inspired their works. We will also have an audience-led discussion titled ‘Why we make art and its purpose in society’, to discuss what the exhibited work highlights and the different issues in contemporary visual art practices,” Gollifer says.
“My primary interest in art is in utility and simplicity. I believe that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. I design with human behavior in mind because my art is about an expression of feelings,” states featured artist Mmoloki Timpa.
The show will run from noon. “Everyone is welcome to come view and experience the pieces. We look forward to people sharing their opinions with us,” enthuses Gollifer.
