Truly, his is a testament that talent runs deep in the family after he emulated his aunt who is also an artist. In an interview with Arts&Culture this week, Motshidisi revealed that he was grateful to his aunt who has helped him unleash the artist in him.
He echoed that as a boy when his aunt was busy with her artwork, he would be in great awe of what her aunt was doing and that led to him picking up his pencil and learning art. “My passion for art planted roots from a young age because I was always fascinated by one of my aunt’s drawing skills and I picked up a few things here and there from her between the ages of nine and 11,” he said.
Motshidisi, who uses Art by B. Motshidisi as his trade name, stated that it was his aunt who later encouraged him to pursue the art journey and share his talent with the world. He said his aunt showed him the ropes. “My aunt lit a fuse and that started my art journey and that is one person who person who has supported me ever since my art journey,” Motshidisi said.
The man who hails from Kopong said he is also motivated to continue with his journey by seeing the brimming smiles on people’s faces after setting their eyes on his artworks. “When my drawings started getting me attention that I never experienced and the love and happy faces from people being in a state of awe, it motivated me to continue with this journey,” he happily said.
With the form of art he does, he indicated that he mostly focuses on drawing people.
“I am currently a specialist in commissioned portraits but from time to time, I dabble in abstract painting in order to express and channel my vivid emotions,” Motshidisi said. Regarding his emotions, he highlighted that he would like to believe his artwork is different from other artists because he gives each portrait a part of himself as he is emotionally invested.
Through his artistic journey, Motshidisi reckons that he hopes to ameliorate the state in which his family lives. “My inspiration in art is my dream for a better future for me and my family as I was born from a poor background and as such I view art as my escape pod to a better future,” he expressed. Commenting on the state of the creative industry, he expressed that the industry is regressing rather than going forward. “I feel like the artist profession is an endangered profession in Botswana as there are few to no opportunities that grant artists a way to a better future,” he bemoaned. But still with that, he elucidated that the newly formed National Arts Council may change that. “The National Arts Council has been showing some promise and I should be able to apply for an artist grant whenever they are truly trying to help artists in Botswana,” he hoped. In his endeavours, Motshidisi revealed he wishes to hold a solo exhibition event of his artworks.
