The young talented artist from Tutume village has a keen eye for conservation and has carved out a unique niche in the world of textile design. Armed with Associate Degree in Textile Design, he told Arts&Culture that he specialises in re-purposing old denim jeans into stunning works of art. Elisa’s expertise lies in transforming discarded denim into remarkable art pieces. He makes beautiful art pieces from intricate tapestries to bold sculptures. He emphasised that his creations breathe new life into forgotten fabrics. Through meticulous craftsmanship and innovative techniques, he said he weaved together stories of heritage, sustainability and style. “My inspiration for recycling denim jeans and turning them into art pieces stems from my fashion design background and experience during the COVID-19 lockdowns. During that time, I sought a creative outlet that would allow me to repurpose materials meaningfully. This led me to experiment with denim, a fabric with personal significance and versatile potential,” he said. “What sets my work apart is the fusion of traditional textile techniques with a contemporary artistic approach. My art is distinctive in Botswana, as I haven’t seen other artists working with fabric in this way. Each piece reflects a unique blend of inspiration style and material, transforming everyday items into visually compelling art that tells a story of sustainability and innovation,” he explained.
Furthermore, he said growing up in Selebi-Phikwe, where mining careers were highly valued, he initially studied welding and fabrication. However, he pointed out that his true passion has always been art. He added that even at school, art was the subject he was most drawn to, so he ultimately chose to follow his heart and pursue an art career. He also said the public has responded positively to his artwork. He added that many people appreciate the unique approach of recycling denim into art and were intrigued by the blend of sustainability and creativity. He explained that their feedback often highlighted how his work stands out and resonates with themes of transformation and innovation. Speaking of one of his most memorable pieces, he said it was the portrayal of a San man and a Herero woman sharing food. He explained that the artwork symbolises the unity within Botswana’s diverse cultures, celebrating collaboration, shared experiences and the strength found in cultural harmony. He added that it vividly conveyed the beauty of their shared humanity and bonds that transcend borders.
“As an artist, I have faced several challenges. One significant issue is the low buying power of Batswana, which affects the affordability of my work. Many of my pieces take one to three months to complete, making them costly. To address this, I am developing a strategy to create more affordable artwork for a typical Motswana. Additionally, my working space is quite small, which limits the scale and scope of my creativity,” he said. Moreover, Elisa stated that he achieved several notable milestones in his art career. He said he participated in various art exhibitions, including Nna le Seabe, Youth Rally and the Nandos art competition, where he secured first and second place for two consecutive years. He is also 2023 National Art competition in the mixed media/ innovative design category champion.
Elias, who is also a member of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, further explained that in the next few years, he sees his work expanding to reach a broader audience with more accessible art. He stated that this is so because he plans to explore new techniques and mediums, increase his international art scenes and pursue new collaborations and exhibition opportunities. Besides being an artist, Elisa is also a fashion designer. He says he balances the two by managing his time effectively and integrating his artistic skills into his fashion designs, ensuring each complements the other. His advice to aspiring artists is to stay dedicated, continuously explore and refine their unique style and never stop learning. He urged them to embrace feedback and stay resilient in the face of challenges.
