Tshepo Mosopa is a contemporary artist based in Tshwane-Pretoria whose work has been shown in exhibitions such as The New Signatures Art Competition 2007, The Rehearsal Exhibition 2008 and For Sale Project Exhibition 2008.  He is currently part of the final  selection exhibition for the ABSA L’Atelier Art Award 2009. Mosopa is a member of the Creative Industries Consortium Tshwane and at the time of writing he is attending training in printmaking at the Artists Proof Studio in Newtown Johannesburg.

Mmutle A. Kgokong: Please tell me a little about your self.

Tshepo Mosopa: I was born on the 24th of October 1985 in Pretoria. I started school at Retlilepele Primary School, in Mabopane. My love for art developed during my primary schooling years when I started drawing and copying images from books and magazines. After primary education I went to Setumo Khiba Middle School (now a High school), and later to Ngaka Maseko High School where I matriculated.

 

M.A.K: Where did you receive your first direct contact with visual arts education?

T.M (laughs): While at High school, in 2003 I participated in an Outreach Art Program presented by the Pretoria Art Museum – the programme focused on basic theory of art and some practical work. The programme made a lasting impression on me.

In 2005 I enrolled to study Fine Arts at Tshwane University of Technology where I majored in Glass and Printmaking for two years. Presently I am practicing art full time, I am also doing some designing and I am currently attending a printmaking training at the Artists Proof Studio in Newtown Johannesburg.

M.A.K: What would you say concerns you the most in your artistic expression?

T.M: I am influenced by what I see around me and in my art I try to reflect on the feeling and thoughts brought on by my surroundings and life experience especially in Mabopane and the journey between there and the City of Tshwane (Pretoria). I title my work in Se-Tswana idioms (diane le maele) in an attempt to link my work with my traditional Tswana grounding.

M.A.K: Do you have any influences? I am struck by a strong reference in your work to Dumile Feni.

T.M (Draws a serious look): Yes I am in love with Dumile Feni it is indeed noticeable. However I have other favorites like Julian Motaung, Andrew Motjuoadi, Gerard Sekoto, David Koloane,  William Kentridge as well as Francisco Goya.

M.A.K: Well thank for your time and i wish you well with the programme at the Artists Proof Studio.

M.T: It’s a pleasure, thank you.

NB. Tshepo Mosopa may be contact via e-mail on: mtmosopa@gmail.com

The images reproduced on this site remains copyright of the artist and may under no circumstances be used without the artist’ consent.

22 May

© Mmutle Arthur Kgokong 2009

N.B. This article first made its appearance in posthighdef’21.vol.1 on 22 May 2010