Phokoje to showcase Botswana’s beauty
Maun-based poet and wildlife photographer, Tshepo Phokoje will showcase Botswana’s natural beauty during a solo photography exhibition slated for May 26-27 at The Fields Mall in Gaborone.
The exhibition, which is part of the Botswana Tourism Organisation’s (BTO) 2023 calendar of events, will feature some of her newest photographs that will showcase the artist’s growth from the inaugural solo exhibition titled ‘Gratitude’ that was hosted at the Nhabe Museum in Maun in 2022.
Phokoje explained that the photographs highlight extraordinary nature and wildlife from around Botswana and her intriguing conservation stories through captivating photography and powerful interpretation.
“This exhibition takes a multidisciplinary approach to combine photography and art in a way that can benefit the communities and Botswana’s
local ecosystems. Nature and wildlife photography is an incredible tool that provides an exclusive perspective of the natural world through the eyes of the artist,” Phokoje said.
“Each photo depicts a wild animal behaving naturally in its own habitat and people using their hands to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Nature and wildlife photography plays a significant role in global conservation efforts, highlighting issues relating to human-wildlife conflicts and ways of mitigating climate change,” said Phokoje.
The exhibition is held through Phokoje’s own company, Vixen Excursions. The company mostly focuses on nature and wildlife photography. It won the 2022 Africa Tourism Leadership Forum: Outstanding Marketing & Media Award 2nd Runner-Up.
Phokoje also said photos and footage make wildlife accessible and relatable to people around the world, especially to those who may never see the animals in person.
She explained that as a female artist, she hopes hosting an exhibition will inspire other females to venture into photography as it has great benefits. Phokoje stated that the exhibition also aligns another reason for hosting the exhibition is to align with Pillars 1, 2 and 3 of Vision 2036, which are Sustainable Economic Development, Human and Social Development and Sustainable Environment.
She explained that an exhibition is a platform that is used to reach a larger audience of people that could be inspired as well as potential buyers of the photographs for their homes and office spaces. “Vixen Excursions (Pty) Ltd through its work under the Vixen Photography brand, uses its work to raise awareness about the rich, diverse beauty of nature that we have in our country. Pillar 1 includes the Tourism Sector. The tourism industry will be diversified to provide economic growth and employment opportunities for local communities,” she said.
She stated her work also contributes by marketing Botswana as a tourist destination of choice for both the local and international clients. The theme for the exhibition is ‘Ikigai’, a Japanese word meaning ‘Life purpose’ or ‘raison d’être’.
“Ikigai refers to defining your personal meaning of life in relation to your talents, passions, and profession, as well as what you can give to the wider world and the artist has discovered hers through photography,” she explained.
Phokoje, who also dabbles a poet and travel writer, has been a member of Poetavango, a movement she joined in 2018 after having been introduced by a fellow poet.
As a keen traveller, she says the more places she visited, the more she gravitated towards nature and wildlife photography. The 41-yearold has participated in a couple of photography competitions, both in Botswana and internationally. She describes herself as a lover of the arts, as such she used YouTube videos and also enrolled on a six-weeks programme that was offered by the American Embassy called America on the Move to learn drawing and painting basics.
Venturing into a male-dominated field, Phokoje stated that she has received support from her male colleagues.
She said her vision is to use photography and her experience as a poet/writer to tell Botswana’s beautiful stories and diverse cultures.