Meshu Mokitimi ??/??/1920 Lesotho Artist mountain kingdom artist

giovedì 12 ottobre 2017

Meshu Mokitimi ??/??/1920 Lesotho Artist mountain kingdom artist

Meshu Mokitimi

Meshu Mokitimi lives and works in Maseru the capital city of Lesotho; at 82 years of age he still spends each day in his studio dedicated to producing images that represent the culture of his country. ‘I was a peripatetic scholar and learned as I was trotting around the world. My work was influenced by the African Expressionists; people have said that we have a distortionist approach but
for us it is reality and how we see ourselves. I have arrived at a point where I
can express my feelings through the depiction of the human figure.’

Mother & Child

Meshu is a contemporary visual artist and political activist from Maseru, Lesotho, Africa. He was born in the remote village of Queme, in Lesotho, southern Africa in the mid 1920's. He earned his living as a jockey, a circus laborer, a sweeper in the African mines, a milk boy and cook. Meshu became involved in the growing political activism of pre-independence of Lesotho (then Basotholand). He later spent eleven years of his life in prison for his political beliefs and activities. Over the years he has been kept under surveillance, and was barred from entering South Africa. This rich tapestry of experience only served to strengthen his artistic resolve which has resulted in his unique development of style.
Meshu's vivid images have been exhibited widely in Africa, Europe, South America and the U.S. His Work currently hangs in the Smithsonian Institute, Spelman College and various embassies and government buildings. Meshu is recognized as Lesotho's most prominent artist. In 2006, Meshu was appointed Commander of the Most Loyal Order of Ramatseatsana by His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of art and culture in Lesotho. Meshu is a young 82 years old and still spends each day in his studio dedicated to producing images that represent the culture of his country.

The Sleeper

Meshu Mokitimi vive e lavora a Maseru, la capitale del Lesotho; a 82 anni passa ancora ogni giorno nel suo studio dedicato a produrre immagini che rappresentano la cultura del suo paese. «Io ero uno studioso peripatetico e ho imparato a correre in giro per il mondo. Il mio lavoro è stato influenzato dagli espressionisti africani; le persone hanno detto che abbiamo un approccio distorsionista ma
per noi è la realtà e come ci vediamo. Sono arrivato ad un punto in cui io
posso esprimere i miei sentimenti attraverso la rappresentazione della figura umana ».