The Sunday News
Rumbidzai Mhlanga, Sunday Life Reporter
ANTHU Foundation last week hosted the first mannequin art challenge at the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo.
A mannequin is a dummy or a doll usually used by fashion designers to display clothes. In this case, a mannequin is a statue used by artists to showcase their artistic skills whereas a mannequin art challenge is an art competition in which participants use mannequins to depict artistic themes, held under the theme “Africa through my eyes”, participants were required to produce art pieces which reflect true Africanism.
The competition had participants from three Bulawayo high schools namely, Mzilikazi, Sobukhazi and St Columbu’s high schools.
“The mannequins, which the participants worked on, were donated by Edgars. They were required to showcase creativity and innovativeness, as well as bring out the given theme,” said the founder and director of the organisation, Lionel Muchirahondo.
Three judges from the arts industry in Bulawayo were selected to preside over the competition.
“The judges were carefully selected to oversee the competition. The three: Mandipa Masuku the co-founder of Munch and Sip, actress, songstress and poet Lady Tshawe and environmentalist Tonderai Shoko, of the Keep Bulawayo Clean initiative.
The judges used set criteria for judging the artwork that is aesthetic, effort, innovation and adherence to the theme.
The mannequin also had to be refreshing that is surprising and exciting,” said Muchirahondo.
The overall winner of the competition was Brandon Mguni from Sobukhazi High School and the runner-up was Kyle Dube from Mzilikazi High School. Muchirahondo said since it was a cocktail exhibition and children did not get to see the art hence another one will be planned that will also include children.
“Because this was a cocktail exhibition, the children did not get to view the art so we are planning on hosting another exhibition after schools are done with their exams so that children can be included and participate as well, we also hope that the next exhibition will have a wider audience, ” he said.
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