LÜDERITZ – Three decades after independence, there are mixed feelings about the arts and entertainment industry’s growth and financial potential, with some stating that more needs to be done, while others believe the industry has vast potential.
A sculptor from Lüderitz, Paul Herero (39), strongly believes the arts industry can be bankable if the right measures are put in place so that artists can make a living from their work.
Herero says Namibia has a lot of creatives with brilliant ideas, especially young people, but they are deterred from implementing them because they do not see the potential financial benefits they can realise.
“Namibians’ skills are lying idle while the world is thriving in the creative industry, when are people going to realise that? There is immense passion for creative artists and artistry in general, and that needs to be exploited,” said the passionate sculptor.
“There are opportunities for the industry to flourish if one can get a bank loan to finance their ideas,” he said.
He said around nine to 10 years ago, he went to Windhoek to look for a job, and since he was an artist, he was looking for ways to tell a story, and to equally tell the public how one can be creative through art.
“This is how you unlock your creativity by taking the opportunities available, and spreading it across. I am more into business and economics. But since I got exposed to art, I am more creative, and see business economics from a monetary perspective,” indicated the environmentalist.
Herero said: “My love for sculpting comes from the love of nature, and I believe that art is an industry that is still not being fully utilised because thinking about it, a person can make a living through art if it is properly structured.”
He praised the Lüderitz Town Council and The Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) for roping in local artists such as Paulus Amadhila to give the town some colour by painting it.
Amadhila (31) has been drawing since 2020, and believes that being part of the painting team is a dream come true.
“I love art, and it’s therapeutic. Because of the image and what the town is known for, we are drawing sea creatures like crabs, mostly in cartoon form. I used to draw sketches at school, but they were not perfect.
After 2020, I decided to challenge myself, and started drawing animals and people, and that became my focus until now,” said the visual artist.
Amadhila said visual artists can do great wonders for the environment in terms of scenery, and making spaces look beautiful because they have the passion.