The art pieces by Omphile Sefako, ballpoint pen artist and Boemo Lunga, an experimental artist who uses charcoal, oil paintings, newspapers, fabric and coffee to interrogate ordinary everyday life of the society he lives in, turned the offices and passageways into a colourful space that catches the eye instantly. The duo is the current beneficiary of the quarterly roving exhibition that began in the last week of February, 2023.
The exhibition will last for three months and end in April.
The displayed artworks depict the abundance of talent the two possess and their ability to pay attention to detail. Complementing one another, the art pieces have created picturesque sight and almost turned the space into a well curated art gallery. For example, there is one striking art piece by Sefako titled Afro Grooming.
This immaculate piece of drawing shows a woman plaiting her daughter’s hair. The piece is expressive and very detailed. According to Sefako, hair plaiting despite being commercialised, is still practiced in homes and as part of tradition, is being passed from generation to generation. Sefako says African practices are essential for the socio-economic status of the people.
Some of these practices such as plaiting hair are significant as art forms that go a long way in improving lives of ordinary people. “It plays a pivotal role and situates itself in the non-formal creative industry.
In this work I capture the essence of older African woman beautifying her daughter with hair plaiting. The underlying principle of indigenous knowledge is thus passed on to the young girl as a means of expression for African beauty, an element that signifies the pride and identity of the African people. With the high rate of unemployment, the younger one appropriates the skills as a way of improving her socio-economic status,” explained Sefako.
Another one of his pieces titled, ‘We Decide Our Own Fate’ is also one to look out for. It shows the artist’s creativity and imagination. This piece of art shows a boy in his early age completing his own life.
The 25-year-old artist who started drawing at a young age, says he challenges himself by using the ballpoint pen as it is a difficult medium to use and also to stand out from the rest of other artists which makes him unique. “I choose to use pen because it is a medium of expression, and instead of scripting, I visually objectivity the concept.
The collage approach with newspaper cutting in the background signifies the coming together of the various sectors of the creative industry, using all available resources to re-write our stories and improve on our livelihoods,” he said. Sefako said this exhibition will help him expand his portfolio and give his artworks exposure as they are in the eyes of corporate executives who have the buying power. For Lunga, his beautiful artworks are inspired by everyday life style either strangers or people he knows.
"I appreciate the presence of all people. I use different colours in one portrait to show that we are different in colour but we are one people," Boemo explained. BIHL Public Relations, Communications & Marketing Manager, Tebogo Keepetsoe said they have found it important to continuously hold this exhibition in support of the arts. She stated that the roving gallery exhibition at BIHL has been in existence for the past three years. She explained that the exhibition is done quarterly by picking a selection of different artists who are members of Thapong Visual Arts Centre. Keepetsoe stated that the exhibition is already bearing fruits, as apart from the artists benefiting from the rental and sale money, it expands the artists reach base.
