From Pain To Beauty, Through Art

American social reformer Henry Ward Beecher once said: “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures”.

Whether you are an artist, connoisseur or just an average Joe who appreciates the creativity of art, you will most certainly resonate with that statement.

Despite the difficulties many artists face in earning recognition and reward for their work, they still put their heart and soul into what they produce.

Elvis Garoeb, originally from Otjimbingwe, is now situated at Green Mountain, close to Goreangab, where he creates distinct sculptures with wires.

Garoeb started with his artistry in 2008 and was enrolled at the College of the Arts at the Katutura Community Arts Centre, but he unfortunately had to drop out in 2012 due to a lack of funds.

At the moment he has no studio and has to store his work where other people are living, he said.

Currently, Garoeb’s most recognisable peice of art would be the ‘Toilet Man’, which created with wires and was perched in the National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) last year. “Most of the things I make, I will take to the NAGN, and see of they are able to sell it for me,” Garoeb said.

However, things don’t always work out the way you plan. Garoeb often has to take to the streets to sell his artwork.

“I try to sell, but sometimes I’m not successful. We don’t get any support from the government when it comes to art. That’s one of the problems that I have,” he said. Garoeb recently created a rhino sculpture, complete with wire and grass, to create a symbolic piece of art.

“These things I make are things that can be bought. Like the rhino, which are busy being killed, so I designed this sculpture to be green, to fit in with nature,” Garoeb said.

The environmentally conscious artist usually takes up to three weeks to complete his sculptures. He created another similar piece he calls the ‘Tree Man’ and ‘The Elephant’ which he made with recycled newspapers.

Despite his creativity, Garoeb must do other odd jobs to earn enough money to continue fulfilling his dream.

“I often help out at people’s houses and when they pay me, I go out and buy my wires,” Garoeb said, adding that he often does tiling work or lays interlocks, another craft he is good at. The struggling artist mentioned that he is skilled in all forms of art and can take up any project his customers bring to him.

He also mentioned that selling art is very difficult for him, and it sometimes takes him several months before he sees any monetary rewards.

“It doesn’t come easy,” Garoeb said. “Foreigners support us more than the locals. They give us more attention. It will be better if Namibians also supported us like this.

Garoeb’s abilities received some much needed recognition at the Bank Windhoek 30×30 competition in 2015, when he reached the top 10.

The artist is by no means complacent in this achievement, and said he yearns to complete his education.

“It’s better for me to go back and study. I think I should go back and try to get papers to my name,” Garoeb concluded.