Edward Tsumele

Edward Tsumele

What do you do on a Sunday when everything is quiet and you are not in the mood for a hectic schedule? The best thing to do is probably to go to an art exhibition.

This came into my mind this past Sunday, and I headed to Gordart Gallery in Melville for the opening of Michael Livn's non-functional Tea Pot exhibition.

I know that art is expensive and is beyond the reach of most of us, but this did not deter me from going there. I got more than I had bargained for because, besides Livn's opening, there was an inspiring group exhibition in the main gallery.

Currently showing is a dynamic group exhibition featuring more than 20 artists. But, what impressed me most was Lukas Thobejane's wooden sculptures that are housed in the second gallery.

Thobejane's sculptures are as interesting to look at as they are wrapped in mystical metaphors.

For example, one wooden sculpture shows what looks like a crocodile biting its prey - a type of buck. But on top of the crocodile, there is another creature that looks like a crocodile which looks on passively, not taking part in the feeding.

Well, this one has a price tag of R15000.

Granted, this seems far more than most of us could afford. But considering Thobejane's experience in making sculptures, it seems to be worth what the gallery is asking for.

Born in Sekhukhuneland, Limpopo, in 1973, Thobejane trained as a carpenter but has had no formal fine art training. He started working as a fine artist in 1999.

In 2001 his opportunity came by when he took part in a group exhibition of the Great Sekhukhune Municipality.

He also took part in another group exhibition at the Polokwane Art Museum in 2002. In 2004, he took part in Sasol New signatures and the Absa L'altelier competition, reaching the finals.

l Livn and Thobejane's exhibitions will run until February 9.