Nicanor Shipanga: Crafting art amid challenges in Namibia
Namibian visual artist Nicanor Shipanga recently shared his artistic journey with tjil, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs he has experienced along the way.
Born and raised in Katutura, Shipanga's passion for visual arts was ignited at a young age. Despite the absence of formal training, he found solace and expression through sketching and drawing during designated periods at school. "We didn’t even have an arts class, per se, but there was a period that allowed us to express ourselves through doing, and that’s the time I would use sketch and draw," he recalled.
Growing up alongside his three siblings, he narrated that he faced a lack of support for his creative pursuits at home. He, however, does not harbour resentment towards his family, understanding that "art in Namibia is generally not recognised, and such was the case at home".
In 2010, he decided to pursue his art seriously, drawing inspiration from life around him to create numerous visual artworks.
Though he remains dedicated to his craft, Shipanga has encountered significant challenges, including limited support and insufficient facilities for art exhibitions. "Most of the art exhibition opportunities in Namibia require you to have an extensive collection, which can be expensive to put together, so I have struggled to showcase my work in that manner," he shared.
Yet, these obstacles have not deterred his dreams. The visual artist aspires to host his own art exhibition and eventually establish an art gallery to provide a platform for his peers who need such spaces.
His journey reflects not only his personal resilience, but also the broader struggles faced by Namibian artists striving for recognition and support in a challenging environment.
Born and raised in Katutura, Shipanga's passion for visual arts was ignited at a young age. Despite the absence of formal training, he found solace and expression through sketching and drawing during designated periods at school. "We didn’t even have an arts class, per se, but there was a period that allowed us to express ourselves through doing, and that’s the time I would use sketch and draw," he recalled.
Growing up alongside his three siblings, he narrated that he faced a lack of support for his creative pursuits at home. He, however, does not harbour resentment towards his family, understanding that "art in Namibia is generally not recognised, and such was the case at home".
In 2010, he decided to pursue his art seriously, drawing inspiration from life around him to create numerous visual artworks.
Though he remains dedicated to his craft, Shipanga has encountered significant challenges, including limited support and insufficient facilities for art exhibitions. "Most of the art exhibition opportunities in Namibia require you to have an extensive collection, which can be expensive to put together, so I have struggled to showcase my work in that manner," he shared.
Yet, these obstacles have not deterred his dreams. The visual artist aspires to host his own art exhibition and eventually establish an art gallery to provide a platform for his peers who need such spaces.
His journey reflects not only his personal resilience, but also the broader struggles faced by Namibian artists striving for recognition and support in a challenging environment.
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