Kelebogile Marope sees the stories we leave

Kelebogile Marope, an award-winning sculptor from Botswana, has been named the 2026 FNB Art Prize winner, marking a significant achievement in her artistic career. The announcement came four days after the date of the award, which was August 12. Despite the accolades, Marope expressed feelings of shock and disbelief, stating that the emotional impact of the win had not yet fully subsided. She described the experience as an overwhelming wave that continues to linger, even though she initially believed it would fade after several days. Marope's art explores the concept of home and the narratives embedded within everyday domestic spaces. Her work invites viewers to reconsider the significance of objects and environments that are often overlooked. Through sculptures crafted from materials such as plaster, white cement, and grout, common elements in home construction, she creates pieces that evoke a sense of memory and history. These installations are part of her broader exploration into the idea of becoming archivists of our own lives rather than waiting for future generations to uncover our past. Born in Botswana, Marope spent much of her early life in South Africa, where she pursued her education and developed her artistic skills. She moved to South Africa at the age of 13, driven by her parents' desire to provide her with better educational opportunities. After completing her secondary education, university degree, and postgraduate studies in South Africa, she returned to Botswana, a decision influenced by emotional ties, familial connections, and personal necessity. The decision to return home was deeply rooted in Marope's sense of belonging and identity. She described a persistent feeling of homesickness, likening it to a close friend she knew well but could not predict when she would reunite with. This sentiment intensified following the death of her father during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the eldest child, Marope felt a heightened sense of responsibility toward her family, particularly her mother and younger sisters. This emotional burden reinforced her decision to return to Botswana. For Marope, home is not merely a physical space but a complex site of identity formation, language acquisition, relationship-building, and memory-making. Her series titled Archaeologies of Use examines the domestic environment through the lens of individuals navigating their daily lives. In these works, she highlights the experiences of women managing household responsibilities and teenagers undergoing personal growth within the confines of the home. By making familiar objects appear unfamiliar, she encourages viewers to re-examine the spaces where they live and the roles they play within them. Marope emphasizes that the home is one of the most underrepresented spaces in the stories we share about ourselves. She believes that understanding the value of these spaces becomes evident only when they face disruption or change, such as when a house is vacated, a family member passes away, or a home must be emptied. These moments reveal the hidden significance of the domestic sphere, prompting reflection on the ways in which our lives are shaped by the environments we inhabit.