N$500k for Hage’s painting
A painting by young Namibian artist Hage Mukwendje was recently sold during a totally unplanned auction in Windhoek for N$500 000.At the age of 31, this sale is remarkable and it is widely speculated that this could be one of the highest prices paid yet for a painting by a living artist in Namibia.
“I was invited to create a living art creation for the Energy Conference that took place in Windhoek in April. Live art is when you create something on stage while people are watching,” he said.
Hage was on stage with saxophone player Suzy Eises, who made music for 30 minutes while he painted.
“I started the painting upside down and then turned on its sides to continue painting. Only when I finished and turned the painting right side up could people see that it was a woman creating a clay pot. Clay pots are very important in my culture,” he said.
When his painting was completed, mines minister Tom Alweendo stepped on stage and asked Hage about the painting. Alweendo then said the painting needed to be auctioned off and started bidding.
“It started at N$50 000; people started bidding and when it reached N$150 000, I was stunned. The price just went higher and higher, and then stopped at N$500 000. I could not believe it. It was incredible! The next day people and the media called me, but I could not believe or confirm it because I did not know what to say to them.
“After a week, Total Energies Namibia called me and confirmed that they had not had too much wine, but loved the painting and had really bought it. That was the moment I shared the news!”