Notes

Born deaf, Tommy Motswai’s photographic memory owes much to the silences of his world and the racket in his mind, which together give him a right of entry to a strong sense of vision. He enrolled for art classes at FUBA (Federation Union of Black Artists) in 1983 and attended classes at the Johannesburg Art Foundation. He also spent time at the University of Bophutatswana. This experience and exposure have allowed him to sift through the threads of society and come up with a style that undercuts all the loaded expectations about representation and the township eye. The honesty of his work displays a vibrant personality and unprejudiced attitude – one that encompasses his experiences in the broadest sense.
Tommy Motswai pays great attention to minute detail as he sees it, and consciously makes an effort to record life's important incidents and moments. His work often includes humour and good-natured exchanges between people. He records the happy and cheerful aspects of his world, and leaves all frustrations and despair out of his art.
In 1992 Motswai won the Standard Bank Young Artist Award, giving him recognition for his work. He has a number of solo shows to his name and has been featured in group exhibitions nationally and internationally. He also attended workshops and taught art to deaf children, taking an active role to ensure the recognition of the deaf and advocating the use and knowledge of sign language by both the hearing-impaired as well as other citizens of the country.