By Pinehas Nakaziko
WINDHOEK-The Acting Rector of the College of the Arts (Cota), Angelika Schroeder,is advising ex-Cota’s graduate of the course of Product Development, not to give up on their dreams.
Schroeder who is also a performing artist and choreographer speaks highly of these ex-graduates when she opened of their exhibition “New Beginnings 2014” at the Craft Centre last Friday. “Having the power to turn something into something bigger is one of the best gifts anyone can have. And that’s what you have. You always take simple things and create it to be something bigger and more amazing than anyone could imagine. That’s what makes you such an inspirational others,” says she in motivating them.
The New Beginnings 2014 exhibition is part of an ongoing “smart partnership” between the College and Bank Windhoek to encourage creativity and innovation in the sector. It was initiated six years ago, as a springboard for young visual artists who are at the beginning of their artistic careers. Nicky Marais, Head of Department: Visual Art and Craft at the College says the artworks on exhibit is all done by the graduates in their own studios and no College work is being displayed. “This gives the young artists as well as their former mentors a chance to see what has been learnt, what progress has been made and whether the lessons instilled during their years of study have made a lasting impact,” she says.
She adds that, graduates exhibit together resulting in an eclectic mix of styles, mediums and inspired choices. “Creativity and the original use of symbolic imagery are evident in this year’s New Beginnings. Paintings and drawings cover a large variety of styles and genres – taking careful note of these new artists and their brand of contemporary art promises to be a rewarding experience,” says Marais.
Frans Uunona is exhibiting his artworks titled Nature Defines Me. He says his works defines the inspiration of nature. “One of my art works shows the Aluvera Plant. The Aluvera Plant is unique and bright used for medicines and creams. We are of Mother Nature and it’s that beauty defines us. This is what inspired my painting,” he says.
Sunya “Sue” Beukes is exhibiting her artworks titled Void. She uses coffe and watercolours. She says, her artworks, depicts how, even when you have everything you ever wanted, materialistic wise or any way, there’s always that certain void in life and nobody’s life is perfect regardless of what one may have. Kalunda Jofin is exhibiting works about materials, a mix-media used to build materials in shanty towns.