Meshu Moketimi critiqued the artwork by Machabeng College former students on display
Mohalenyane Phakela
FORMER Machabeng College students, Nthabiseng Mphaka and Mpho Sephelane, are holding a joint visual art exhibition showcasing their thoughts and experiences at Alliance Française hall.
Dubbed Leeto, which means journey in Sesotho, the ongoing exhibition was launched last Saturday and is set to end this Saturday.
According to Sephelane (19), the exhibition chronicles their creative journey from making simple drawings to becoming visual artists.
“Leeto is the story of how we grew to love the arts and, through grooming, became prominent visual artists,” Sephelane told the Weekender on the sidelines of the opening ceremony on Saturday.
“My artistic journey began when I was a toddler drawing cartoons I saw on television. Machabeng College then groomed the talent that was already within me.”
Sephelane said visual art was a means of expressing her thoughts and worldview to the world.
“Visual art is my way of describing my feelings and portraying who Mpho Sephelane is. I take my craft very seriously and, hopefully, I can pursue visual art as a career.”
She also paid tribute to her former teachers at Machabeng College for providing mentorship.
“It was through them that I realised my potential in visual arts and I will continue to pursue my passion regardless of the career path I end up taking,” said Sephelane.
On her part, Mphaka (18) said her passion lay in visual art, adding that she hoped to establish Lesotho’s first visual arts in future.
“We do not have an art gallery in Lesotho, yet we have so many talented visual artists like the veteran Ntate (Mokitimi) Meshu,” she said.
“Regardless of the career path I choose when I get to university, I will always have my painting kit with me, as it is the only medium that allows me to fully express myself. My dream is to open an art gallery so that people are able to interpret stories we come across through visual arts.”
Also in attendance at the opening ceremony was veteran visual artist, Mokitimi Meshu, who urged the duo to “change Lesotho through art”.
“I hope this is the beginning of your prosperous journey and you should not be held back by criticism. I see a bright future in these young artists,” he said.
“It has been a long time since we, as artists, embarked on a journey of uplifting the arts sector to change people’s perceptions. People should not turn a blind eye to art because while life is short, art lives forever.”
