For the first time, an artist from Lesotho is exhibiting in Antwerp.
The exhibition will take place from Thursday, September 11 to Sunday, September 14 at the RUIMTE34 gallery, Cobdenstraat 34, Antwerp. The opening on Thursday, September 11, at 5:30 PM will be attended by the Ambassador of Lesotho, ‘Mantoetsi Mohatonyane.
Patrick Rorke (1953)
The painter Patrick Rorke is self-taught. A descendant of an Irish/French missionary family active in Lesotho since the mid-19th century, he was born in the village of Morija, about 40 kilometres from the capital Maseru.
Professionally, he taught art and ceramics at the Alex Art Centre in Johannesburg. He also made a significant contribution to the completion of the new Constitutional Court in Johannesburg (2004); he contributed more than 200 engravings of sunscreens.
Following a visit to Spain, he started the Morija Arts Centre in 2010. The centre offers a platform for artists and students where they can work and exhibit their work.
Patrick is currently working on the construction of the Maloaleng Artist Residency, where artists from Lesotho and abroad will be invited, also with a view to holding workshops for local schools.
The exhibition
The exhibition primarily features oil and watercolour paintings of Lesotho’s unique landscape. Since childhood, Patrick has been fascinated by the poetic power of this landscape; he captures this in his paintings in his own unique way.
Lesotho, unprecedented, unknown
Lesotho is known to few. It is an independent country completely surrounded by South Africa. It is roughly the size of Belgium, has a population of around two million, and is a major diamond producer.
Situated on a plateau, Lesotho’s lowest point is the highest lowest point of any country in the world. Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy headed by King Letsie III and became world news when President Trump announced new trade tariffs in April of this year.
On that occasion, it was announced that Lesotho’s exports would henceforth be subject to a 50 percent tariff, the highest of any country. The Lesotho-based textile and garment industry (suppliers of Levi’s, Calvin Klein, and others), which employs some 20,000 workers, primarily women, was naturally affected.
The tariff has since been reduced to 15%, but the significant uncertainty has had a huge impact on the industry, the textile workers, and the residents of Lesotho.
About the organisers
The exhibition is Patrick’s initiative. The organisers (Hans Duynhouwer and Marlies Biekmann) know Patrick from their time (2010-2014) when they lived in Lesotho, where they worked for the European Union.
Summary
- A descendant of an Irish/French missionary family active in Lesotho since the mid-19th century, he was born in the village of Morija, about 40 kilometres from the capital Maseru.
- Patrick is currently working on the construction of the Maloaleng Artist Residency, where artists from Lesotho and abroad will be invited, also with a view to holding workshops for local schools.
- The tariff has since been reduced to 15%, but the significant uncertainty has had a huge impact on the industry, the textile workers, and the residents of Lesotho.
Authored by our expert team of writers and editors, with thorough research.
