Gaths is inspired.  My husband met him at an internet café in Bulawayo .  The two clicked immediately so Dominique brought Gaths back to the little backpacker’s place we were staying in.  The plan was to go to Gaths’ house, which doubles as his studio, and check out the body of his work. After lunch, Dominique, Jason, and I followed Gaths into vans and travelled from one neighbourhood to another until we reached his house.  The place was small, dimly lit, and overflowing with colour, cloth, carvings and canvas. Gaths started apologizing about the way things looked, the two chairs in the place were covered by works in progress, every flat surface in the place was occupied by something he had made, even the kitchen was overrun by empty cans of paint and pieces of wire and wood that Gaths was making instruments out of. Dominique, Jason, and I were thrilled, not only had we finally been welcomed to the home of someone we didn’t know (something that didn’t happen in Namibia) but he was an artist and we could see the brother was truly living his art.

When I told Gaths that I would feature him on the website I thought I needed to interview him, but truth be told, everything in his space told his story.

“I grew up in Harare and came to Bulawayo in 1990.  I think I was born into art.” 

“In the beginning I was working with a gallery but I started running away from European standards of art."

"I began to see art as a rebellion. I started using natural elements: bark, feathers, sandpaper, leather, metal.”

“I want to create art for the local market, not for the rich.”

“I want to make useful art, not something for the wall, something for the body.”    

It is so important to Gaths to make useful creations, that he made a sponge for cleaning the house and a sponge for cleaning the body.  Both products have red, gold and green packaging and the household sponge is being carried in major supermarkets in Bulawayo .  Still, Gaths says that it is a daily struggle for him to live from his work. He makes everything by hand except for the vests, jackets and pants which he designs but must be sewn by others. 

We didn’t leave Gaths’ place until the tiny hours of the morning and we would see him again during our stay.  Much light, colour and good energy to Gaths who treated us like family, guided us through the beautiful city of Bulawayo , and inspired us with his visions.

(PS: Gaths designed the jacket and hat that you see him wearing and he knitted the hat I am wearing in the pic below! Endless talent. his email is: gathsoriginal at yahoo dot com )