Lesetedi�s art of law

Thato Kala | Friday January 16, 2015 12:37

 

Interestingly, an astounding number of law students, graduates and professional lawyers also have a knack for all things artistic.

For some, it is merely a hobb with painting, sketching and sculpting acting as the perfect escape from endless reading. But for others, a creative life is more enticing than a life studying or practicing law.

Take the insanely famous French painter Henri Matisse, for example. Matisse studied law and got a job as a law clerk. He fell ill in his early twenties and began painting while he recovered. The creative spark was ignited. Two years later, he ditched his legal career and never looked back.

Closer to home, Mbako Lesetedi prefers to call the ‘weird’ move a ‘calculated risk’ after graduating at the University of Botswana with a Law degree and working at Collins Newman&Co for three years as an intern.

Lesetedi believes his fellow countrymen remain stagnant in life because of the fear of taking chances. Although he refers to himself as a budding artist, his passion for art is beginning to pay off.

Two of his pieces are in Geneva, Switzerland and he reckons that is a sure sign art will take him places.

Lesetedi started dabbling in art at the age of nine, and recalls how he often competed with his classmates.

The passion developed as he grew up to a point where it became a habit to do comic books.

But, when it was time to go to varsity, the art passion was tucked away a little and law seemed the right thing to do.

“Those were the years I threw art aside. I put art to the side and pursued law. Towards the end,  my heart told me I needed to do art. You can try force but it never works,” he says of his varsity days

“At the time that was what I believed I wanted to pursue but as I grew older I realised that is not I wanted to go into. Art was my true passion,” he explained.

 About three years ago, he decided to dump law and take up art full time. It was not a decision everyone around him understood, but the love for art in him meant no one could change that decision.

He spells his vision out as going global and being an internationally renowned artist. One group of people he draws inspiration from are the Yaya Toures of this world – footballers from countries with fewer resources than Botswana who go on and make a mark in Europe.

But he is buoyed by the two Geneva pieces and the interest he is beginning to generate in Botswana.

The two individuals who bought his art pieces saw his work on his website. One of the clients wanted something that would remind them of  Botswana following a visit here. He admits that gave him courage and showed him the future is bright. He also said it is beginning to produce results. In addition to that, some of his work has previously been selected for the President’s Day competition. He has also participated in a few exhibitions and received rave reviews. A gallery in Mafikeng showcases time and again, while an exhibition at Sophie Lalonde Art is also on the cards this year.

Unlike most artists who grumble over their artworks not being bought, Lesetedi has an amazing perspective. “My main concern was whether my art would attract outsiders and when that (selling to Geneva) happened I saw I could really achieve what I had set out to achieve. I haven’t been to Geneva but my paintings are hanging there,” says a proud Lesetedi.

Interestingly, his law expertise has not been totally thrown out of the window.  He uses law for copyright and says it is relevant to art.

The 31-year-old stresses the need for artists to understand the value of their work and not settle for anything less. “It’s my intellectual property. An idea is rare; it should not be given for next to nothing.

They (clients) should understand and appreciate the value of your work,” he says. He adds that passion fuels you to want to become better in that particular thing.

He is ready for all the challenges art will throw at him on his way to the summit. “Champions are not birthed overnight. Success is worked at over time,” he states. The ambitious artist is aware that art in Botswana is not taken as seriously as it is in other countries, but that does not put him off.

Rightly so, Pablo Picasso a yesteryear art guru had a statue of him made in his native home, Spain. “We must realise that human beings are natural resources. They are capable of putting the country on the world map.”

Lesetedi has no particular mentor, but has a few men he looks up to. Mandela made that list yet again, alongside Malcom X and former professional boxer Muhammad Ali.

 One of his crowning moments was when the art department from Wits University came to ‘scout’ for art talent in Botswana.

“Wits came here when I was in form five and we submitted portfolios as they were looking for artists who could pursue art at Wits. My piece was rated second best,” he says.

While most artists believe formal training enhances skill, Lesetedi is of the view that it may water down one’s natural ability.

In fact, Lesetedi already fears a lot of local artists do the repetitive pieces like zebras, lions and portraits of the President, which he doesn’t think are creatively exceptional.

“People say my work is different, it’s nothing people have seen before because it is individualistic. I do study courses on the internet as well as pick techniques from other artists,” he says.

He adds: “I want to keep my work original. I’m a self-taught and self-trained artist.” Interestingly, Lesetedi refuses to single out any of his paintings as his best, insisting that ‘the best is yet to come’. However, he seemingly derives fulfillment from the biggest piece he has ever done titled African Renaissance.

The piece is about rebirth and depicts his vision of perfect leaders. “It shows people who are proud of their leaders. “I included buildings to show the future and that we can build a better Africa,” he explains.