FNCC Restaurant Gallery A Space for Emerging Artists

As the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre’s main gallery hosts a variety of exciting visual arts talents, premieres Art Battle and prepares for ‘Wakpon’, “an augmented reality showcase featuring 43 artworks created by African artists from all over the world”, upstairs in their big, red restaurant, a series of new artists gently make their debut.

“The FNCC restaurant gallery is a space/platform for new emerging artists,” says FNCC’s outgoing cultural officer, Isabel Katjavivi. “It is a safe space for artists of all ages, demographic backgrounds and training levels and allows full creative freedom. The gallery allows all to exhibit as a stepping stone to their dreams.”

Imposing “no restraint on artists’ experience” and adding that every artist has to begin their journey somewhere, the FNCC’s only criteria for potential exhibitors is that they have an “underlying passion to grow as an artist”.

A revolving door of nascent artists exhibiting various degrees of potential and often experimental in as much as young artists use the platform to showcase a variety of styles and techniques, the work exhibited at G’outs d’Afrique (the FNCC restaurant) is often best appreciated as novice or developmental.

“The FNCC showcases the reality of the local visual arts industry,” says Katjavivi. “The diversity in topics, themes, skill levels and techniques. The FNCC pays close attention to new artists hiding on various social media platforms, and is excited about those exhibiting at the centre within 2018.”

One such artist is Rozanne Visagie who presents ‘Diversity’ as a series of pen, pencil, acrylics, watercolour and pastel works.

Largely concerned with young women in a collection that ranges from still life wine bottles to the clear-cut ‘Puzzled Mind’, Visagie’s showcase is one which mines various styles to passable effect.

Most intriguing in a largely tepid debut are ‘Modern Africa’, contrasting ‘Shared Emotion’ and the stand out ‘Divided Nations’. The latter a vital and arresting piece showcasing a promising use of colour and simple forms far more affecting than Visagie’s less abstract offerings.

“It is important to remember that every artist has a voice and it is their journey that strengthens their talent and stance,” says Katjavivi.

“It is only through trial and error that one grows. Giving artists a platform to try at their passion allows them to face criticism and hone their skill. Putting artwork out for criticism or appraisal is a necessary part of being an artist.”

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