Hope and Despair at National Gallery in Harare, January 2011

-

A new exhibition at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare is set to challenge perceptions and ignite conversations about Zimbabwe's socio-political landscape over the past decade. "Hope and Despair" features the works of nine emerging artists, each offering a unique visual commentary on contemporary life in Zimbabwe, was officially opened by London-based art critic and curator Christine Eyene.

Among the featured artists are Calvin Chimutuwa, Muthabisi Pili, Tafadzwa Gwetai, Portia Zvavahera, Mercy Moyo, Richard Mudariki, Warren Mapondera, Zacharia Mukwira, and Virginia Chihota. Through a diverse range of techniques, styles, and narratives, these artists present a compelling portrayal of the challenges and triumphs experienced by Zimbabweans during this period of hope and despair. Raphael Chikukwa, the curator of The National Gallery of Zimbabwe, expressed his enthusiasm for showcasing these emerging voices and providing them with a platform to shine. He emphasized the importance of supporting and nurturing creative talent, particularly in the face of isolation and adversity. Chikukwa's selection process was not limited to Harare alone but sought to represent the artistic diversity of Zimbabwe as a whole. "In short, great art and artists need endless attention and support," Chikukwa remarked. "The selection of these artists reflects a balance between figurative and abstract works, bridging the gap between various art forms." He singled out artists like Virginia Chihota, Richard Mudariki, Tafadzwa Gwetai, and Portia Zvavahera as exemplifying the direction of Zimbabwean art in the years to come. While acknowledging that the exhibition cannot fully represent all emerging Zimbabwean artists, Chikukwa believes that it offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of talent within the country. "Hope and Despair" invites viewers to embark on a journey through the intricate and thought-provoking works of these artists, encouraging them to reconsider their perceptions of Zimbabwe's past, present, and future.
The exhibition opens on January 27th, promising to be a thought-provoking and visually stunning exploration of Zimbabwe's recent history and its enduring spirit of resilience.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Journey Out to the unknown - National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Mutare 2006-2010.

-
Image
From left: Wallen Mapondera, Inzwai Mushowe, Enos Mangaku and Richard Mudariki                                                                    (from the Archival Records of the Richard Mudariki ) In early 2006, I participated in and curated my first three-man exhibition at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Mutare, titled "Our Thoughts." I still remember that time vividly: we were young, inexperienced, poor, confused, and unknown artists. We traveled by train overnight from Harare to Mutare, with our artworks stored in the baggage section. Arriving early in the morning for our first visit to the Eastern Highlands city, we discovered some of our artworks were damaged. Hungry and disoriented, we got lost trying to navigate from the train station to the gallery. Without cellphones, we had to rely on asking for dir...
Read more

Artist Conversation: one on one with Richard Mudariki in London

-
Image
African contemporary art and artists have been receiving international support over the past few years. One platform that is dedicated to showcasing contemporary art from the continent to new audiences in the western world is the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair. Bringing together 15 exhibitors and over 70 emerging and established artist from Africa, the art fair launched its first edition in London in 2013. In just two years, the fair has moved from being an annual platform to a biannual platform, having launched a New York edition in May. According to its Artistic director, Koyo Kouoh, the art ‘fair promotes contemporary African visual culture, while synchronously fostering a site for exchange and discussion’. 1:54 FORUM 2015 Artist Talk: Marc Stanes and Richard Mudariki in conversation, London (image courtesy of ARTCo Gallery) This year’s London edition featured 38 exhibitors, and had over 150 emerging and established African and African diasporan artists. Running par...
Read more

FREE TO CHOOSE - Solo exhibition in Cape Town: An Artist Statement

-
Image
We are living in exciting times. In my opinion, the future of the African continent has never looked brighter than today. We live in an era of relative peace, freedom, ease of communication and travel, better health facilities and education.   Though this generation has its own unique challenges, they are in sharp contrast to the inequalities and oppression experienced during the eras of slavery, colonialism and apartheid. The ‘born free generation’ can only imagine how harsh life would have been during those times.  Many artists from previous generations had their work dismissed as primitive - only to be exhibited as tribal art. It took many years of struggle, commitment and creativity for visual artists like Thomas Mukarobgwa, George Pemba and El Anatsui, among others, to be recognized by the dominant western art world as true visual artists and for their work to be considered valuable.  Most of these early generation artists on the African continent ar...
Read more