Mural artist dreams of opening school
BRAAMFONTEIN - Lebani Sirenje's artwork welcomes guests at the Constitutional Hill's reception office, after he was chosen among 10 other outstanding artists to do murals for the building.
He was born in 1977 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and he started painting while at Ingwengwe Primary School. His grandmother also played a big role in developing his talent. “When I was five years old she used to buy a cloth and she would ask me to decorate it; after sometime she told me that I would be a great artist,” he said. Sirenje’s fine art skills were honed at Magwegwe Secondary School where he specialised in fine art.
“The community that I live with shows little interest in art.”
After leaving the land of Mzilikazi, Sirenje crossed the border to the south of the Limpopo River. He settled in the North East of Johannesburg, moving between Hillbrow and Yeoville, before he settled in Berea. He has since participated in many art exhibitions and has also been commissioned to paint astounding murals for many organisations and individuals.
“I do mural paintings, decorating walls – I can do it in your lounge and children’s bedrooms,” he said. Sirenje also does portraits and landscapes.
His artwork is displayed on walls of the Hillbrow Theatre and Ekhaya Park. “I also did artwork for my 67 minutes for Mandela and I would like to donate it to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation,” he added.
He said his main challenge was attracting enough customers to buy his artwork. “The community that I live with shows little interest in art.”
His biggest dream was to own a place where he could work and sell his artwork and open an art school for the youth. “If I can have financial assistance I would love to teach young people art and how can they can stay focused in life. We need to encourage the young ones to get involved in art, as it’s a beautiful thing that needs to be appreciated.” Sirenje said. “I love art, there is not a single day that passes by without me painting something,” he added.
