From Scraps and Talent to Art

Some people joke that many artists get paid in exposure. Though it might be humorous, on the other side of the tracks, exposure is all that is asked for.

Engelhard Rooinasie, a middle-aged sculptor living in the vibrant and often destitute community of Goreangab, struggles to make ends meet and put food on the table for his family since the untimely passing of his sister, who was in fact the bread winner.

However, he remains hopeful and sees art as the silver lining.

“I was born at Seeis, a small town outside Windhoek as you drive to Gobabis and I attended school at Dordabis,” Rooinasie mentioned, adding that his parents were resettled from Omitara to further in the Omaheke region where they had no livestock and poverty descended.

Being in Windhoek for 10 years, Rooinasie has struggled to find permanent employment, and resorted to odd jobs and yard cleaning where he can gather wires and scraps for his sculptures and make a little money.

“It’s in the blood,” Rooinasie commented on his affinity for art. “It’s my talent. I started out with (toy wire cars), and I was very good in drawing,” he recalled, stating that he branched out into different forms of artwork, which he mostly taught himself.

He’s been doing this artwork for approximately the past four years, but finds it hard to sell.

“If it’s not a white person ordering something from me, I don’t make any money at all.” Rooinasie further expressed his dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture. “Why is art not incorporated in schools?” he asked. “Children are suffering and they fall into drugs, alcohol and crime,” Rooinasie said, denoting that art can be a way out of this lifestyle.

He mentioned that he has written many letters to the ministry, however, they remain unanswered. “I want to ask them, ‘should all of us eat from the bread of this country or is it reserved for the elite?’”

Rooinasie, who specialises in wire, scrap metal and rusted zinc works, said he used to operate in Klein Windhoek, however when jealous foreign traders started making life rough for him, he had to move. “(I’m scared of being bewitched),” he said.

He hopes that more doors will open for him and many other local, unseen artists. He mentioned that government could assist struggling artists to get exposure and sell their work to foreign delegates and reach a broader audience. “From 1990 until now, where is the improvement regarding arts?”

Not far from Rooinasie’s home, I visited another artist’s home, who was previously featured in , Elvis Garoeb. This time I was only met by his girlfriend and beautiful metal sculptures wasting away in the corner.

The incognito girlfriend mentioned that it is a struggle to sell the artwork and she has advised Rooinasie and Garoeb to inquire at the City of Windhoek as to where they may set up shop in more urban areas.

In a previous interview, Garoeb mentioned similar struggles as Rooinasie. “I try to sell, but sometimes I’m not successful. We don’t get any support from the government when it comes to art. That’s one of the problems that I have.”

“It doesn’t come easy,” Garoeb said. “Foreigners support us more than the locals. They give us more attention. It will be better if Namibians also supported us like this,” he told The Weekender.”

Rooinasie has pleaded that anyone who can inform or help him reach the higher authorities in government should contact him at 081 713 3790, 081 855 6500 or on email at rooiengelghard@gmail.com.

“I don’t want to strike, I just want to talk to them, and hand over a petition,” he concluded.

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