Jackson Karipo opens solo exhibition
The Goethe-Institut Namibia hosts Jackson Karipo’s first solo exhibition, The Graduation of a Self-Taught Artist, on Thursday, 18 July 2024, at 18:00.This marks the first time Karipo's unique art will be showcased in a solo setting, though his work has previously appeared at the Namibian Arts Association and at Vinyls Music Café in Windhoek since 2020.
Born in Omaruru and raised in Walvis Bay, Karipo’s passion for drawing began early. "I collected ideas from magazines, schoolbooks, and every scrap of paper I could find,” he recalls. In his 20s, he started designing house numbers in Katutura, presenting his designs to homeowners and painting them in a precise style. This led to creating decorative wall art.
Karipo's journey to pursue his artistic dreams has been challenging. Now 49, he initially apprenticed at a heavy-duty company before working for a well-known car company. “When there were no clients, I took out a sketchbook. I would draw a few lines or the surrounding elements in my office,” he says. However, his sketching during work hours led to his resignation. This setback redirected him to work in graphic design, eventually founding his own business that merged art and graphic design styles.
Despite getting closer to his artistic goals, Karipo was not fully satisfied. A health scare prompted him to reflect on his life and legacy. “I asked myself: If anything happens to me, what will people say? Who was Jackson? I realised nobody was going to say: ‘Jackson was an artist’.”
Karipo’s art is mainly expressionistic and abstract, but it also includes various other styles, such as decorative art. His unique style makes it difficult to categorise his pieces in a few words. Viewers can genuinely feel his emotions as they engage with his creations. "I hope people can draw inspiration from my story, and I hope people can see that what I'm creating is not just creation. It's years and years of hoping, years, and years of putting ideas together."
The exhibition can be viewed until 2 August, with viewing hours from Monday to Thursday, 09:00 to 17:30, and Friday from 09:00 to 14:00.