Prince Tom hosts first solo art exhibition

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Sunday September 4, 2022 06:00

On the rise: Prince Tom will host his first solo exhibition dubbed Ballad of a Butterfly. The talented visual artist is one of the artists whose profile has been on the rise

Tom is a fine artist who specialises in acrylic and oil paintings on canvas, pencil and charcoal drawings, mural works and clothes customisation.

This solo art exhibition of paintings and body art will begin in the evening.

Revellers are expected to dress in creative black tie outfits. In an interview with Arts & Culture, the 25-year-old said he is grateful that he will host his first solo exhibition, a rare feat for many artists to achieve in Botswana due to lack of financial support.

“Solo exhibitions are not much of a common thing locally, so I am very proud of myself for the impact I am bringing in our local art industry. I hope the next artist gets inspired and know that it is possible.

I love and acknowledge the love my fellow people have been showering me with. My art has always received and deemed with great reverence and that always makes me feel like I am doing the right thing,” he said.

However, just like most local artists, Tom explained that he also faces many challenges in his line of career but they do not demoralise him. His view is that if he was bestowed with such a massive talent, it meant he had to take great responsibility as well.

He stated that challenges were meant to build people, make them wiser depending on one’s perspectives in life. He added that he did not like referring to them as challenges but rather looked at them as building blocks as they help build one’s character. Tom also said there was great growth in his craft since he became a professional artist.

He pointed out that he continued living and experimenting movements where he always surprises himself. He further explained that this year he was amongst the top five artists chosen countrywide to compete for the ‘Bodiragatsi Jwame, Lentswe Lame’ competition hosted by the First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) where he scooped position two and walked away with P10,000.

He added that the bank also sponsored them to study entrepreneurship. “I have also worked with Jameson as a brand influencer and I got the chance to work with the current Miss Botswana reigning queen Palesa Molefe and tv personality Sadi Dikgaka. I have also dressed a lot of local celebrities such as DJ Kuchi, Khoi San, Charma Gal and Han C. I also have a painting session organised by FNBB where I was conducting 60 people.

There are also more future plans that I cannot reveal yet, as I like to live in the moment. When the time comes, I will reveal everything. Everything has its own time and I work by divine timing,” he said.

Even though this is his first solo exhibition, Tom is no stranger to the exhibition scenes.

He had group exhibitions since 2016 such as The Life Of An Artist Exhibition, The Best In Us Exhibition, Charity Exhibition at the National Octagon Gallery, Maitemogelo Exhibition and Women Create Love Exhibition.

He promised a Three-Man Exhibition with his friends as a way of celebrating brotherhood and their journey in the industry. He added that there would be more solo exhibitions and collaborations with cooperates in the pipeline. Tickets for the exhibition sell at P200 per person.