A talented rural artist says he wants to meet former South African President Nelson Mandela and current State President Thabo Mbeki, so that he can personally hand them the statues he made of them in recognition of the roles they played in nation building.

Mr Patrice Mabasa (33) of Mavambe village outside Malamulele says he will never rest until he meets the two heroes because he honours and respects them for their exceptional political achievements. “People say it is very difficult to meet Mandela and Mbeki, but I will fight to the bitter end to realize my dream. I have designed these statues especially for them and it would be a terrible blow for me if I don’t meet them. I want to shake their hands and personally explain to them why I decided to honour them in this fashion.”

A born artist, Mabasa is a painter, pencil artist and a sculptor who continues to make a mark despite his poor financial background and lack of resources. He has won many awards, including the AA Travel Guide Arts and the National ABSA Fine Arts Competitions. His works have been exhibited in France, Britain and England. “I became interested in art when I was still at primary school. I would draw human figures with a pencil and it impressed my fellow learners and teachers. I then tried my hand in sculpting and painting and everyone liked my work.”

Mabasa says there is more to his art than ordinary painting and sculpting. “Art goes hand in hand with creativity and images should send a message to the community. Every art piece should have an interpretation that teaches, entertains or warns the community about sensitive matters…”

Mabasa studied fine arts at Wits Technikon but he could not complete his studies. “I gained a lot of knowledge that I am presently applying. I only spent two years at the institution and could not complete my degree because of financial problems. It is also very difficult to get a bursary when one is studying towards fine arts…”

The gifted artist has done wall and mirror paintings for big companies and also made statues for prominent businesspeople in Limpopo. “I use different paints and mix them carefully so that they produce a desired figure. For statues, I use cement and later give them final touches with carefully selected paints to make them more attractive.”

Although he is famous in his village and the surrounding areas, Mabasa says he needs someone who can help him with marketing his products. He also plans to open an art school to teach the young generation about his skills. “I dream of establishing a cultural village where people will come and see a variety of my artworks in one place. This will only be possible if I can get a sponsor.”

Mabasa can be contacted at 083 599 8765.