The living art of pillars

Maureen Odubeng | Friday January 31, 2014 17:16

MAUREEN ODUBENG

Staff Writer

illars have become fashionable, and the designs come in different sizes and shapes with a variety of decorations friendly to the eye.

By artistic finish one might think paints or drawings on the pillars; that is not what Motaung is doing. He is engaging in a more complex practice of adding characters on the pillars, mostly human forms. He tries to communicate through his images. He uses concrete and sometimes fibreglass for his sculptures, giving the pillars a lively look. In the dark, a passer-by might conclude that a person is leaning against the pillars.

Motaung only went as far as junior secondary school. Judging from the detail of his artwork, it shows that the man takes his trade seriously.

One of the pillars shows a hunter, carrying his hunting bag. Hunters have been known to have a strong physique and Motaung's sculptures capture these characteristics.

Another sculpture shows a woman carrying a bowl with one hand, while holding her dress slightly higher with the other hand. From a distance, the pillar looks like the woman is leaning against the pillar. Mataung seems to be a stickler for detail, as with this particular sculpture one can see fine lines on the side where the woman is holding her dress slightly higher.

Surprisingly Motaung does not have any formal training in his line of work. He relies on raw talent to make a living and keeps improving his skill. He said as a young boy he had interest in moulding clay, excitedly relating how he used to mould cows when he was in primary school. But it was only when he got to junior secondary school that he realised he had talent. Motaung, however, did not get into it right away.

He said when he came to Gaborone he worked as a labourer, mostly in construction, and that is when he got the motivation to use his artistic side to make a living. Motaung concentrates more on home decor sculptures, which include sculptures of animals.

Motaung also makes fountains, TV stands, and other home decor products. When Arts and Culture caught up with Motaung he was busy with the sculpture of a bird, using fibreglass as a medium.

Even though, his business is still growing, Motaung has created employment for three people and intends expanding.

He said people have shown interest in his work adding that he has actually sold a few pieces to some South Africans.

Motaung explained that while the s he has on display are his own designs, he also takes orders from customers who give specifications.

'I don't restrict myself to my designs, I welcome customers who come with pictures of the sculptures they want me to do. I am more than willing to do consultations with home owners, to come up with artworks that they feel will be suitable for their homes,' Motaung said.

To improve his skill, Motaung said he sometimes interacts with other artists at Thapong Visual Art Centre, where he has entered his sculptures for competitions.

Motaung believes it is important for artists to network, as it can help them grow and sharpen their skills. Motaung is very much alive to the fact that to stay afloat with the ever-changing market, he needs to keep doing market research on the kind of products that might interest prospective clients.

Tebogo Motaung of Pitsane in the Borolong area has found a niche and is involved in a different kind of art that tries to capitalise on the growing enthusiasm with pillars. The 30-year old whose workshop is located in Mogoditshane, just after the Pula Spar traffic lights, is designing unique pillars with an artistic finish. By artistic finish one might think paints or drawings on the pillars; that is not what Motaung is doing. He is engaging in a more complex practice of adding characters on the pillars, mostly human forms. He tries to communicate through his images.

He uses concrete and sometimes fibreglass for his sculptures, giving the pillars a lively look. In the dark, a passer-by might conclude that a person is leaning against the pillars. Motaung only went as far as junior secondary school. Judging from the detail of his artwork, it shows that the man takes his trade seriously. One of the pillars shows a hunter, carrying his hunting bag. Hunters have been known to have a strong physique and Motaung's sculptures capture these characteristics. Another sculpture shows a woman carrying a bowl with one hand, while holding her dress slightly higher with the other hand. From a distance, the pillar looks like the woman is leaning against the pillar.

Mataung seems to be a stickler for detail, as with this particular sculpture one can see fine lines on the side where the woman is holding her dress slightly higher.Surprisingly Motaung does not have any formal training in his line of work. He relies on raw talent to make a living and keeps improving his skill. He said as a young boy he had interest in moulding clay, excitedly relating how he used to mould cows when he was in primary school.

But it was only when he got to junior secondary school that he realised he had talent. Motaung, however, did not get into it right away. He said when he came to Gaborone he worked as a labourer, mostly in construction, and that is when he got the motivation to use his artistic side to make a living. Motaung concentrates more on home decor sculptures, which include sculptures of animals. Motaung also makes fountains, TV stands, and other home decor products. When Arts and Culture caught up with Motaung he was busy with the sculpture of a bird, using fibreglass as a medium. Even though, his business is still growing, Motaung has created employment for three people and intends expanding.

He said people have shown interest in his work adding that he has actually sold a few pieces to some South Africans.Motaung explained that while the items he has on display are his own designs, he also takes orders from customers who give specifications.'I don't restrict myself to my designs, I welcome customers who come with pictures of the sculptures they want me to do. I am more than willing to do consultations with home owners, to come up with artworks that they feel will be suitable for their homes,' Motaung said.To improve his skill, Motaung said he sometimes interacts with other artists at Thapong Visual Art Centre, where he has entered his sculptures for competitions.Motaung believes it is important for artists to network, as it can help them grow and sharpen their skills. Motaung is very much alive to the fact that to stay afloat with the ever-changing market, he needs to keep doing market research on the kind of products that might interest prospective clients.