This week The Circle features works by Botswana Interior Design student Batlang Senabye.

Botswana student Batlang Senabye, 22, arrived in Malaysia in 2007 to do Interior Design (Architecture) at Limkokwing University, Cyberjaya. While Senabye is very much into the course he is taking, he finds himself actively exploring the other fields of art as well.
"At this stage in my life, I'm open to challenging myself, to broaden my horizons and sharpen my skill, which is why I took part in the 2010 Botswana young artists' exhibition in Malaysia with a group called Disclosed Wits.
My paintings and drawings infuse styles and concepts related to architecture. Because of this, I found it necessary to collaborate with colleagues from other fields like fine arts and graphic design for this particular exhibition.
I'm presenting several Botswana computer-generated cultural and tribal designs. This theme means a lot to me because, as a Botswana student in a foreign country, I ought to show off the colours of Botswana whenever and wherever possible.
In Malaysia I participated in several major events like AIDS DAY Preview in 2007, Graffiti Painting in Limkokwing University 2007, and Grand Prix horse painting in Bangsar New Village 2007." 
 
Here are some of my works to date:

Ruler
In most cultures the king in the animal kingdom is the Lion. It is believed that a lion's roar restores order and every animal listens to it and respects it. Even the biggest animals like elephants, pay their due respect to the lion, specifically the male. However, mankind is still the real king, master of all creations, including the animal kingdom. This makes him the ruler of other 'rulers'. 

South Tales
The south, meaning the southern part of Africa, consists of many nations. As such, we share a variety of cultures. Throughout civilisation, the animal kingdom has continued to remain intact and continues to be a source of pride for the tourism industry, irrespective of globalisation and the changes around us. Most animal species have not become extinct and still continue to flourish. They are also still much mentioned in the fables and tales from long ago.

High store
This bag contains sour milk. It is stored up high above but still remains insecure. The broken fence indicates that people still steal/use its contents. It seems that people can never keep it out of reach of others. It can be compared to heaven's blessings and how, people can never get enough of it and continue to ask for more all the time.

Sunset Voyage
This painting shows beauty reflected in the colours of the sky, harmonising perfectly with the landscape, and on the surface of a river. The elephant cools itself from a long sunny day at sunset before it returns to its habitat.

Storm
Some say an elephant, when in rage, can even crush a Land Rover. This is especially so in the case of a female elephant which feels that its calf is being threatened by human beings.
There have been stories of elephants splitting a huge tree vertically, from the top, using its trunk to place the offender inside the split area and crushing the offender enclosed within. I compare this kind of rage to a violent storm that tears away roof tops in its way.

Batlang Senabye's art was exhibited along with works by other Botswana students at the Annexxe Gallery, Central Market last month. The exhibition themed "Tradition" showcases the nature, culture and the background life of the Botswana artists.