By Aubrey Thom Vakhani
Contributor
In Mzuzu City, a young artist is making waves in the local art scene. Victor Sato Nyangulu, a 23-year-old visual artist, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Social Science (Development Studies) at Mzuzu University. Despite his academic pursuits, Victor’s true passion lies in art.
Born and raised in Mzuzu, Victor developed an interest in drawing cartoons at a young age. His brother, Oscar of Oscar Arts, and other local artists inspired him to focus on realistic drawing.
“I became more curious about art when I reached tertiary school. Apart from art, I’m also a basketball player and enjoy teaching children art skills. I’m passionate about volunteerism, too,” Victor said.
Victor, known as Sato34-Arts, has worked tirelessly to hone his drawing skills. However, he faces numerous challenges, including limited access to expensive art materials and logistical hurdles that hinder his ability to expose his art internationally. Moreover, Victor n expensive in Malawi, making it difficult to create new pieces with limited resources. Additionally, it’s challenging to send my work outside the country. I believe visual art is underrated in Malawi,” Victor explained.
Despite these obstacles, Victor remains committed to his craft. His goal is to open an art gallery, create impressive works for big events and international art markets, and teach others interested in learning art skills.
“I want to create a platform for local artists to showcase their work. I believe that by promoting local art, we can foster community development and cultural exchange,” Victor said.
Victor draws inspiration from nature and the opportunity to pass on his skills to others.
“Seeing others learn art is fulfilling. Cultural festivals that showcase artwork bring people together, creating a sense of community and bonding,” he noted.
To support local artists, Victor suggests that the Malawi government and private institutions establish art galleries and studios in urban and rural areas.
“This would provide a platform for artists to showcase their work, while strengthening copyright policies would protect local artists from exploitation.
“Providing funding and grants would also help artists access expensive art materials, and creating a marketplace for local art would allow it to reach an international audience,” he said.
In the face of limited resources, Victor advises fellow artists to utilize locally available materials in their work.
“This reduces dependence on expensive imported materials. Regularly posting artwork on social media can also help reach a broader audience,” he explained.
Later this year, Victor will participate in the Bush Festival at Ntcheu Garden, where he will showcase his artwork. As he continues to pursue his passion for art, Victor remains committed to promoting local art and fostering community development through his craft.
