GENDER DOES NOT MATTER IN THE ART INDUSTRY

To Itumeleng Mosweta art is a form of communication, the best way of self-expression based on her thoughts, observations and everything she have experienced in life. Its meaning is shaped by the materials, techniques, and forms she uses when creating her paintings, which is why she considers it therapeutic. She have been doing art for 2 years and a month, but started doing it full-time for 7 months. She mentioned that it took her whole life to develop her style because it’s shaped around what her life experiences.

What inspired you to do what you are doing now?

My mother is my biggest motivator, a Woman that has made me the strong, confident and passion driven young lady I am today without a father figure in the house. She’s the one that capitalized my business when I started it with nothing and supported my decision to follow and fulfil what I’m passionate about.

What were some of your goals when started and how have they changed over time? Initially I did try to follow a different route completely mismatched with my interest.

That didn’t work out. I felt sorry for myself for a while but I couldn’t pity myself forever. I don’t know what God’s plans are for my life so why try to force things that weren’t meant to be. So I just took a step forward, set different goals and I’ve never looked back since

What can you say are your unique traits in your art?

Unique traits in my art lie in the way I create it and the thought that goes into creating it. I have my own thinking and imagination, I observe things from a different point and nobody could ever have the same perspective.

Men are dominant in the art industry; do you ever feel belittled because you are a woman in the industry?

Of course I do sometimes but throughout my art careers, the criticism and all I’ve just allowed my art to speak for me. I’m not to be the point of focus here, my art is. That’s why gender shouldn’t matter in the art industry. My art and the message I have to share with the world is what will make way for me. My job here is to create. We are all artist smashing goals in our own lanes.

The relationship with the consumers is crucial, and yet it seems to be a fragile one. How do you see the balance between giving the customers what they want and treating them to something new?

The thing with running a creative business is that your target market will not always have control over what you provide them with. I can give them what they want but

I’m not afraid to do what I’m comfortable with and make them realise how valuable what I create is despite what they sought to be the norm.

How would you describe your own development in your artistry?

It’s been a bumpy ride but the road to getting what you deserve will never be a comfortable one. I know that the challenges i face are only there to create a stronger version of myself.