The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Life Correspondent
THE National Gallery has roped in schools across Zimbabwe to take part in environmental awareness exhibition that is part of the institution’s year long 60th anniversary celebrations.
The exhibition titled, “Tovatose/Sisonke” is being held in conjunction with the Environment Management Agency and would be showcased in Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare.
National Gallery curator, Raphael Chikukwa said each of the National Galleries in the respective cities would be running separate exhibitions that would have various works by students on display.
He said the call has already been made and depending on responses the exhibitions could be on show in May.
“The exhibitions are being run independent of each other although they are using a similar theme and the intent is the same.
We are celebrating 60 years as the National Gallery and we are using the opportunity to raise awareness of the need to conserve the environment. Involving school children ensures they learn about the importance of the environment and the need to conserve it for future generations,” said Chikukwa.
He said they are also taking the celebrations to the annual Venice Biennale which runs from 13 May-26 November 2017.
Zimbabwe has been exhibiting at the international on an annual basis and Chikukwa said this year’s composition of artists is meant to reflect the varied arts forms the country has.
He said the artists exhibiting include Bulawayo-based Charles Bhebhe, whose paintings focus mainly on figurative images and their relation to the social scope, Dana Whabira whose work is a snapshot of all media, including experimental assemblages, installation, spatial intervention, sculptural painting, and photography, which incorporate performance as process, Admire Kamudzengerere work explores identity, politics and society and 74-year-old sculptor, Sylvester Mubayi.
“The composition is meant to reflect and encompass all Zimbabwean art forms dating back to the time the Gallery was opened in Harare,” said Chikukwa.
The National Gallery in Harare was opened on 17 July in 1957 while the one in Bulawayo followed which was officially opened in 1972 although had been operating since 1970 and then later came the one located in Mutare in 1999.
In September the Gallery will host the International Conference on Africa Cultures that will involve artists, curators, anthropologists and archeologists from all over the continent and beyond.
Another exhibition, titled “Form and Colour” to celebrate Zimbabwean art from 1957 to date is scheduled for December.
Chikukawa said the exhibition is open to all Zimbabwean artists and a call has been made with artists already sending in their work.
“We want this exhibition to capture the essence of Zimbabwean art history. We want to have diverse works on show hence we urging all artists from all backgrounds to submit their works,” he said.
A pan-African exhibition is also on the cards and will feature African artists both domiciled within the continent and abroad.
