Art takes Kgang places
Chippa Legodimo | Friday July 11, 2014 12:04
He imagined and fantasised about creating such movies one day.
Those childhood dreams ignited a passion for abstract art, a passion that has now landed him a scholarship in China.
Kgang has stubbornly stuck with abstract art against his teachers and peers’ advice to give other forms equal attention.
“I have always liked adventure and fiction movies. Whenever I saw those funny creatures with wings, I would imagine myself with wings also,” he told Arts & Culture.
On Saturday, the 17-year-old Moeding College student achieved his biggest milestone when he was chosen to study art in China after his abstract piece was crowned the best during the Southern Region Secondary Schools art exhibition at Thapong Visual Arts Centre.
The Chinese Embassy’s Chief Political Officer, Tang Shenping, announced at the end of the exhibition that Kgang had won a five-year sponsorship to study in China.
“My dream has come true. I never doubted my talent but I have to confess, I never expected it to mature this early,” Kgang told Arts & Culture.
The youngster said famed Spanish artist Picasso’s works and history have also inspired him to push his passion forward.
Studying in China, where the people are very artistic and cultural, Kgang believes will make him a better artist.
“I am grateful to my mother for supporting my talent, my teachers for encouraging me and the Chinese Embassy for offering this kind of opportunity. I hope it will make me one of the most respected artists one day,” he said.
Kgang’s mother, Boitshepo Kgang, says his artistic talent started showing very early in his life.
“He just liked drawing. But he would often draw very funny things. I only recall one real piece that he did of his grandfather’s portrait,” she said.
Boitshepo has conceded that her son is not good in other subjects and that when she realised his potential in art, she encouraged him to take it seriously.
“I would say he is just average in other subjects. His strength lies in art. It has always been like that. I have always believed he would go far but I did not expect it to be so soon,” the jubilant mother said.
Kgang’s art teacher Dorothy Rapula also waxed lyrical of her protégé. He described him as a rare talent and a committed student who went “beyond the call of duty” to master the craft.
“You will always find him alone in the art lab during lunch breaks and after school. He is so easy to guide because he has the talent and the passion to push that talent,” she said.
Head of art department at Moeding College, Joe Segotlong, said he was not surprised when Kgang came out the best.
“He has been one of our best. We knew all along that we were grooming a good artist and we are happy that our efforts are paying off. I have no reason to doubt he will do well in China,” Segotlong said.
Shenping explained to Arts & Culture that Kgang’s sponsorship was part of Botswana and China’s education and culture cooperation agreement.
“I was very impressed with the pieces I saw at the exhibition. One would reckon they were from seasoned artists. Art represents the culture and history of a people and Kgang has done well to earn this scholarship,” Shengpin said.
Shengpin explained that though the youngster was awarded the scholarship based on his performance in art, he would be free to choose what he wants to study.
However, the student says he had no interest in pursuing anything other than art.
Kgang is not the first art talent to emerge from Moeding College. The school was once home to one of Botswana’s brightest stars Wilson Ngoni whose paintings are still on some of the walls at the institution.
The school head Motshegofatsi Kgomela said her school has always strived to produce the best and that it is encouraging to see more of their products excelling in art.
“The excitement and the jubilation that engulfed our school after the announcement was just amazing.
His peers now realise that hard work pays and the Chinese Embassy has made us proud. We trust Koketso will be a good ambassador,” she said.