Matseba comes a long way as visual artist
Self- taught visual artist, Andrew Matseba has been crafting his skills as a painter and abstract artist for many years. One of the oldest artists, Matseba has for many years been craftly sharing his talent with the local art lovers and others outside the country. Keen and passionate about the Botswana traditional way of life, his artworks mainly revolve around this subject as well as his abstract art pieces, showing off his versatility.
Needless to say, both of his realistic and abstract art pieces have found permanent homes in government offices, embassies and other permanent art collections in residences across the world. The fact that he is self- taught and that he only learnt new tricks of his chosen path on the job and through residences and exposure, has done very little to stop this talented gem from working hard. Sharing his journey in the arts with this publication, he explains that in 1993, he made his way to the Botswana National Museum in search of a home where he could find other like- minded people who shared a common interest. It was there that he met the likes of talented and great artists such as Velias Ndaba. That move saw him becoming a member of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, a move that opened many doors for him.
Through that move, he was able to participate and showcase his works in a number of notable exhibitions and workshops. In the years of his career, he fondly remembers being able to get a three- month art residency at a popular Cape Town Gallery. It was through that move that he was able to showcase his collection.
“I am very passionate about the traditional way of life. I want to showcase this to the world and those who own my art pieces,” he explains.
He further says that he loves to show off traditional houses, traditional set- ups and everything that tells the story of Batswana. He further notes that his work is not targeted at any particular market, and that all who fancy and love his pieces are his customers.
With the world and the local creators badly affected by the impacts of Covid- 10, he explains that the new way of doing business is online, and that this is the only way that one can tap and find buyers from across the world. He is encouraging other artists to take advantage of technology. “The lockdowns really impacted us, as we were not able to work and sell our works. Even when one had some artworks, it was not easy to sell as our customers have also been badly affected by the pandemic,” he explains.
He further notes that all is not lost and that artists must keep pushing, and working on their dreams. “When you are tapping in technology, people from across the world can see your works and hopefully they can buy your pieces,” he says. He further calls on parents to encourage their children if they spot that they are talented in something.