Tomorrow: First Namibia Arts Fair Promises Local Art Explosion

It’s all about art, installation and education at Windhoek’s first Namibia Arts Fair. Bursting onto the scene bright and early at the Goethe-Institut tomorrow, the inaugural fair invites all music, spoken word, dance and art lovers to spend the day enjoying a variety of performances, exhibitions and workshops before a multidisciplinary Battle Royale and charity art auction in aid of the Power Pad Girls and the SPCA.

“The Namibia Arts Fair aims to address the lack of platforms for up and coming Namibians to feature their work,” says events coordinator Samuel Matengu who founded the fair alongside Jeoffrey Mukubi and Ramatoulie Sallah-Muhammed adding that the programme includes rising stars Chantell, Jeff AD, Fire, Nga-I as well as an open mic.

“We have noticed in our years that often it will be the same artists showcased on multiple platforms, and those artists who are not as well established or without the necessary connections have difficulty displaying their work.”

A rare combination of visual and performing arts, the fair features more established artists such the headlining Miss H amidst its Namibian film and video theatre and a variety of practical workshops.

“We have tried as much as possible to feature both visual and performing artists, in both exhibition and performance. Of course, for the exhibitions, it is easiest for the visual artists to sell their work, but we have dance groups and musical groups such as Song Night selling their artists’ music and videos,” says Matengu.

“Additionally, we will be having a lyrical panel discussion, entitled the ‘Art of Raw’, featuring Harry, Ghetto Ballerina, Theoriii, and Tenderheart, speaking on the art of rap and word-weaving.”

If rap and word weaving aren’t your thing, the fair will also present workshops on calabash carving by Este Wiggil, 3D printing with Michael Swartbooi, movement improvisation with Haymich Olivier, mixed media painting with John Kalunda, recycled jewellery with Foibe Amundaba, ultraviolet photography with SkySam, elevation through art expression with Larry Kazombiaze and a session titled ‘Art, Our Universal Language’ by Rodelio Lewis.

“My workshop is about understanding how various forms of art are all linked to one another to serve as a method of communication. And to help individuals deepen their understating and ability to use the language of art to properly articulate and convey a message through their dialect,” says Lewis, who advises attendees look forward to an art epiphany before expounding on why the Namibia Arts Fair is important.

“I think it’s important because it creates a safe and free space for artists to be treated as business owners, where knowledge can be shared with one another while encouraging community solidarity.”

A local art explosion set to keep attendees refreshed with a food market selling tacos, crepes, kapana and more, the Namibia Arts Fair will also feature a children’s zone replete with an interactive art wall, poetry rocks, face-paintining and a jumping castle before night descends for the multidisciplinary Battle Royale taking place at The Kitchen at 18h30.

“We hope that the community will receive a one-of-a-kind festival experience where they can spend an entire day really immersing themselves in Namibian art in its variety of forms,” concludes Matengu.

“We also hope that this event will help put Namibian art on the map in terms of increasing its value and worth, where artists may become household names and people can purchase Namibian artwork for their own homes instead of just buying the same generic, mass produced art from the store.”

The Namibia Arts Fair will take place tomorrow, Saturday, 28 July from 10h00 to 18h00 at the Goethe-Institut. Tickets for workshops and the charity auction are available separately on the PayToday app, at Airtime City kiosks and on today.com.na. Follow Namibia Arts Fair on Facebook and Twitter for more information.