A portrait artist’s rise

Imagine sitting in front of a man and in two hours he presents you with a carbon copy image of yourself which you can frame and display in your house. Using only a pencil and paper, he sketches the best portraits Malawi has ever seen. He is one of the most popular and busiest portrait artists in the country. His portfolio includes images of US president Barack Obama, President Joyce Banda, reggae maestro Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, George Bush, Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II and Mahatma Gandhi.

Amazing and simply splendid, is what can be said of Malawi’s young portrait artist Dalitso Disi.

His work is highly respected in Malawi. That’s why it was no surprise when he was asked to sketch the controversial Madonna adoption court case in Malawi, when the pop star was fighting to adopt a second child Mercy Chifundo James.

“You know cameras are not allowed in court, so I was given the task of sketching everything for them to show on TV around the world. I produced four portraits, but they took two,” explains Disi.”

Dalitso does not only draw portraits of celebrities, newsmakers and statesmen; his clientele includes ordinary people.

“I have customers both local and abroad. Those who come from other countries tell me to do self-portraits within a day so that they can take it back to their home countries, so I am always busy. Again, there are lots of locals who ask for self or family portraits or whatever they like,” he says.

On a busy week, he sketches three portraits a day. He has done so many portraits he has lost count. And it is because of this success and his incredible talent that he travelled to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup where he raked in some cash. And with the 2014 global soccer showpiece months away in Brazil Disi is leaving no stone unturned.

“I cherish the time I spent in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup. It was a self sponsored trip but it was worth it. I was and remain happy with how things unfolded hence very excited with the upcoming World Cup.

“So, I am going to Brazil next year. It is a risk I would love to take. I am looking at K4 million for my trip in terms of accommodation, mobility, incidentals among others. The cost is on a higher side but I will not give up. In the same vein, let me ask all those willing to sponsor me on my quest to put Malawi and its art on the map to do so,” explained Disi.

Some may think a man who can produce work of such high calibre must have graduated from the University of Malawi with a fine arts degree. But not Disi. He has never stepped his foot in the corridors of the university.

“I didn’t go to a university to learn this art and neither have I read any books. It is an inborn talent that my late mum noticed in me before I was 12,” he explains.

The seven years he has been in business, Disi has proved to be extraordinary. His art is simply moving and he also does interior decorating which he mixes with art.

“Portrait art is challenging, but interesting because people want portraits always. It is different from doing an art of like villages and all that. With portraits, you have to bring it accurately. I sketch a passport photo size into A1 size. In short I do anything with people’s looks,” said the artist who would not choose to be in any other career.

Disi, who has operated from Sunbird Mount Soche, Chichiri Shopping Centre in Blantyre, has now moved to Lilongwe.

“What I do is street art so anywhere I sit and do sketches. But I have three designated places where I do my stuff. At Game, Eces in City Centre and my main office is at Crossroads Complex where Haroun Sacranie, chairperson of Crossroads Complex gave me free space,” he says.

Disi brings to Malawi a new kind of art, street art, which is yet to grow its roots in Malawi, and he has been making a living out of it.