Zim Now Writer
The artworks that the Zimbabwe quintet of Virginia Chihota, Portia Zvavahera, Gareth Nyandoro, Troy Makaza and Gareth Nyandoro offered an assortment of refreshing pieces exhibited at the recently ended Tiwani Contemporary exhibition.
The quintet, who are part of the six who took part in the west African country, exhibited works ranging from sculpture to painting and mixed media. They worked under the guidance of current National Gallery of Zimbabwe Director Raphael Chikukwa, who curated the bulk of the exhibitions they took part in.
The Art X Lagos fair gave high visibility for Zimbabwean Art at global and continental platforms, which is key to the growth of the creative sector.
Commenting on the Fair, Chikukwa said it was refreshing to see five Zimbabwean artists at Tiwani Gallery, Lagos. “The artist responded very well with the space from sculpture to painting and mixed media. Zimbabwe made a statement of what is possible and showcased four artists who are the alumni of the Zimbabwe Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Chikukwa said Gomo was at par with his fellow artists on this show while the younger Troy Makaza, whose work was at the art fair shined too.
Related Stories
“Being at the Art X Lagos I want to say the presence of 6 Zimbabwean artists that includes Troy Makaza and those in the Tiwane show should make us celebrate. As part of the. Zimbabwean Art visibility at these global and continental platforms is key to the growth of our sector. viva Zimbabwean art, viva Zimbabwean artists and those that continue to support it. Your continued support means a lot to us as country and to the sector too," said Chikukwa.
Yinka Shonibare's residency project and his idea of ploughing back into his home country, Nigeria, Chikukwa said, was a learning curve for a number of successful artists to emulate, adding that looking inward is key to developing local art practice for the Africa to Africa connection can be promoted through artists residency.
A number of the artists are former students of the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design.
The Afreximbank Art Programme is one of the Art X Lagos sponsors and provides the artists with an opportunity to network.
For the quintet, the exhibition provided an opportunity and a platform for reigniting the friendship of their good old school years in Harare in the 1990s as reflected in the similarity and shared ideologies displayed in their colour selection.
Chihota, Zvavahera, Hwati, and Nyandoro featured in the 2013 and 2015 editions of the Venice Biennale. Zvavahera and Gomo were artists in residence at the G. A. S. Foundation, Lagos, where they researched “adire”, tie-and-dying techniques, printmaking, sculpture, and assemblages made from local materials.
Leave Comments