Valley of free art classes
A Limpopo visual artist has converted his home into an art centre. Story and pictures by Sandile Ndlovu
MALAKIA Mothapo, 38, a qualified creative artist from GaMothapo a cluster of rural villages 35km east of Polokwane, says art has no home in the provincial capital.
The acclaimed artist studied at Creative Inter City Initiative (CICI) in Johannesburg. In 2004 he was among the best five art students who were nominated to attend a design workshop in France.
Mothapo, who is now back to his village, says art doesn’t have a home in Polokwane. He was referring to the fact that the provincial capital has no art gallery.
This passionate artist whose art production is under way is preparing for an exhibition. He says when he’s done with his work he will be forced to exhibit in Johannesburg.
Some of his art is displayed at the Soweto Theatre. Also, one of his art works is displayed at the corner of Vilakazi and Ngakane streets, next to Nelson Mandela’s old house in Soweto.
Mothapo has converted his village home into an art centre where he teaches creative art for free to school children.
His first entry into arts was through pantsula dance performances as a teenager.
He says at the time he was not aware he was practising creative art through dance.
“We had a pantsula dance group called Singapore which used to practise in this house. But, I discovered that I was an artist just after completing my matric,” he said.
According to Mothapo, some children do not cope at school, and that is why there is a high rate of teenage pregnancies as well as drug and alcohol abuse in the villages.
“This project will create a platform for pupils to discover their talent. With the lack of opportunities in the villages, it can [help] develop entrepreneurs who will create jobs,” he said.
Pupils from Maredi Primary School, Phuti Primary School and Mmanthe Primary School attend his art classes after school, but not before they fetch clay and water a kilometre away from the centre.
With the scarcity of water in the area, the centre relies on dirty, stinking water from a nearby pond.
At the centre the pupils prepare the clay by mixing it with water before starting to shape their art works. They dry their sculptures for few days and paint them after they had dried up.
On September 20, the centre will hold its first exhibition at Phuti Primary School’s sports ground.
Tshepiso Mothapo, a Grade 4 pupil, and his brother Motsipiri are putting together a statue of athlete Caster Semenya. The statue will form part of the exhibition.
“We were inspired by her winning the gold medal in women’s 800m race at the Rio Olympics. We would like to give the statue to her when it’s finished,” Tshepiso said.
Mary Mothapo, 49, a parent who recently visited the art centre for the first time, said she was impressed by the initiative.
“It keeps our children off the streets. If we can get sponsorship from the department of education and the business sector this project would be a success,” she said.