Frans Uunona was born in a small village near Oshikati. It was through visiting someone’s home, filled with art that, at age four, the artist in him was awakened. Today, art is his lifestyle, as not only does he produced beautiful works of art, but he teaches young Namibian children art, as well. 99FM’s MYD Art spoke to Frans to find out a bit more about ‘The young man’s he[art]‘, his third solo exhibition, and also what he experiences as living in an artist in Namibia.
“My creativity started when I was a young kid. I grew up in a rough society but I met good people that helped me.”
“I believe that every human has a sense of creativity in them, it’s just for one to find in which area you are creative.” Says Frans. “My creativity started when I was a young kid. I grew up in a rough society but I met good people that helped me. I was four years old when I met a lady; it was a white lady, who stayed in “Oshakati”. She had a house that was full of craft and artworks. When I found myself in her house, I was so inspired. I just wanted to stay there, I felt so at home. Ever since then, I just started drawing. I would be drawing if I’m bored, I would be drawing if I was upset or if I’m happy. Unfortunately, I didn’t have art in my school, but then after Matric I went to the College of the Arts, just to sharpen my skills and get a qualification in art. I just wanted to push myself to become an artist. I don’t know how it got into me but I believe it is a talent from God.”
“For us that are artists, by nature you believe in yourself and then you push according to that belief, that one day, you will get somewhere as a Namibian artist.”
When asked what it is like living as an artist in Namibia, Frans says “I feel like as an artist, we are a bit pushed in a corner, we are neglected, we are not that valued. For us that are artists, by nature you believe in yourself and then you push according to that belief, that one day, you will get somewhere as a Namibian artist. I work hard as an artist to express my feelings, my love of art and the creativity that is in me. I want to find myself abroad one day, sharing my talent with other people and showing them my techniques and styles, and learning about different ways of how I can approach my art.”
“Art equipment and materials are very expensive, so it’s difficult sometimes if you really want to do art but you don’t have access to all the equipment you need.”
Frans notes that there are many talented artists in Namibia who aren’t able express themselves because of a lack of equipment. This he says could be a way to support Namibian artists. “If we could come up with a way to help these artists, where they can really express because they have the materials and equipment that they need. Art equipment and materials are very expensive, so it’s difficult sometimes if you really want to do art but you don’t have access to all the equipment you need.”
The young man’s he[art] is an exhibition on at the Omba Gallery in Windhoek and comprises a mix of mediums that make up this collection of drawings and paintings. The exhibition is a collection of Fran’s works covering “daily life that I face and the love that I have for humanity and nature.”
Find Frans’ collection at the Omba Gallery, 40 Tal Street, Windhoek or for more information, speak to the Arts Association Heritage Trust (AAHT) by sending an email to aaht@iway.na
Written by Kirsty Watermeyer