Othusitse Noge: The versatile artist

Gasebalwe Seretse | Friday November 1, 2013 15:31

 

“I remember that I started dabbling in arts while still at Tshikinyega Primary School (Mahalapye) where I mostly did wooden sculptures and when I proceeded to Mowana CJSS, I took up art as a subject,” Noge said.  At Mowana, he met two teachers who became his greatest mentors.  Noge said that one of his inspirations is the award-winning artist, Gigi Kenalemang who has encouraged him over the years.

While in Form 3 in 2003, he won a national competition (sculpting category) held at Khama III Memorial School in Serowe.

“I was told that the piece was going to be used as a marking key. Later, it was taken to the National Museum and that was the last time I heard about it,” the artist said. He wishes that the piece is in his possession.  Noge’s preferred medium is wood and carving tools. From Mowana, he pursued art at Madiba Senior School in Mahalapye where his pieces were used as marking keys.

After Form 5, he became a full-time artist.  At one point, he met a Zimbabwean artist who mentored him. “The Zimbabwe taught me how to use other media in sculpture. Local people would come and admire our works but they rarely bought them. Most of our clients were tourists. Interestingly when we took our pieces outside the country, they were instantly bought,” Noge said.

Most of the artist’s pieces are suited for exterior or outdoor deco.  He said that his preferred subjects are human beings.  “I like making reliefs of humans beings in different forms and expressions and it makes me happy when I have a completed a sculpture that will attract attention,” he said.  After Noge parted ways with his Zimbabwean friend, he ventured into gospel music where he is struggling to carve a name for himself.  Needless to say, it is Batswana’s reluctance to buy artworks that made him leave the visual arts.

Currently, he is rehearsing for the widely publicised Winnie Mashaba show. Together with his friends, he is assembling a band that they hope will make an impact during the show and become a successful ensemble.

Noge said he has realised that in Botswana it is tough to succeed as an artist.  But he believes that his resilience would pay off one day. 

“We as local artists, we have to push hard despite the hurdles that we face, who is going to step into our shoes and do what we are supposed to do if we give up?” he said.