Wilson Ngoni’s exhibition opens
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Sunday November 6, 2022 06:00
The exhibition titled 'Painting Myself' which officially opened Tuesday evening at the Alliance Francaise Gaborone will close on November 12.
It follows Wilson Ngoni’s other massive solo exhibition, The Brush Night with Wilson Ngoni in September in which the artist showcased around 200 paintings. Art enthusiasts marvelled at his freshest artworks as well in a rather intimate atmosphere.
The exhibition attracted the local French community led by the France Ambassador to Botswana, Olivier Brochenin, National Arts Council board chairperson, Brian Dithebe as well as other local artists who had come to support one of their own.
While for this display Wilson Ngoni has brought just a few of his paintings, his latest offerings provide a refreshing view to the viewers.
Ngoni has built an amazing collection of paintings depicting human beings from their childhood to adulthood, as a mirror reflecting the artist’s personality and emotions. His journey as an artist is to unveil him, hence the exhibition’s theme, Painting Myself.
On the night, Ngoni said he must paint how all feel as people not just how he feels as an individual. He said he only gets strong satisfaction from seeing people next to him satisfied. “My manner of painting is a ritual activity that signifies my sense of belonging.
If I don’t belong then I’m empty,” he said. Wilson Ngoni’s art is deeply rooted in the history of this country, depicting life in Botswana, its landscape and wildlife has been persistent in his work. Meanwhile, the director of Alliance Francaise Gaborone, Angelique Saverino said Ngoni demonstrates and continues to showcase his ability to master a wide range of techniques that leave a wide range of audience mesmerised.
“Whether he brushes in a realistic way of abstract, whether the audience can catch a glimpse of cubist and surrealist styles, Wilson Ngoni developed his own art trait with the recurring colourful dots as his own signature,” said Saverino. Saverino also said Alliance Francaise is not only an education centre but also a culture centre, through artistic, cultural and social events as proven by the promotion of multiculturalism.
The organiser of the exhibition and curator, Keoagile Bonang of Ground Works said the exhibition is meant to expose Wilson Ngoni’s artworks to potential art buyers. He said unlike the previous event, which was meant to celebrate Wilson Ngoni’s life, they are trying to seek avenues for sales.