Efraim Nanjeni
Art adds a significant component to streets and buildings as it creates a relationship between the artist and onlookers.
National Art Gallery of Namibia chief executive Snobia Kaputu said this Monday during the unveiling of the mural ‘Waking up The City’ which forms part of the Otjomuise Live Arts Festival 2022 (OLAF) currently underway in the city.
Congolese-born artist Tity Tshilumba created the piece on the sidewall of the NAGN with paint sponsored by NEO Paints.
“Murals are powerful means of bringing life to buildings and streets that would otherwise go unnoticed. Every car and pedestrian passing by this wall will be attracted by the mural, and will become interested in finding out the message behind the mural, and will want to find out who the creator is and what is happening inside the building,” emphasised Kaputu.
On her part, director of arts in the line ministry M’kariko Amagulu said murals beautify spaces but also grasp the current situations and reflect them to society.
“This signifies the important role art can play to depict societies at a particular time, while providing the public an opportunity to think about and engage on those current societal challenges,” she explained.
Amagulu divulged a deeper meaning of what the mural depicts and what the NAGN seeks to covey, saying the San male blowing a horn calls Namibians back to the city after the devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic. “This is more so because the pandemic brought with it lockdowns, travel restrictions and so many other restrictions, which have now been lifted, informing society that now is the time to rebuild to get back in gear. The mural is a reflection of our societies waking up from lulls of the pandemic.” Amagulu indicated that government takes artists seriously and hopes to support them in their development towards self-sustainability.
She then urged the youth to reach out to government bodies and institutions such as the National Art Gallery of Namibia and also the National Arts Council for relevant information about art funding.