‘May you live in interesting times’

Tafadzwa Gwetai

‘‘MAY you live in interesting times’’ is this year’s overall theme for the Venice 58th Biennale 2019 curated by Ralph Rugoff and organised by La Biennale di Venezia. 

It started on 11 May and runs through to 24 November. A total of 91 national participants are exhibiting in the city on water, Venice.  A number of  countries are participating for the first time and these are Algeria, Ghana, Madagascar, Malaysia,  Pakistan, while  Dominican Republic and Zimbabwe are part of the event for the fifth time.

‘‘May you live in interesting times’’, is a very curious theme that stems from being a satirical form of negative intention by the term ‘‘interesting times’’. The theme is suited for this era in which we exist as these truly are ‘‘interesting times’’ where there are surprise political imbalances, misguided truths, distorted religions, shifts in natures cycles, artificial intelligence and loss of ethnic identity.

Our world is constantly evolving and adjusting to change and with that change so does mankind. Our constant shifts in perspectives on how we view our human worth and how we are caught up with digital and virtual identities change. Modern man has come a long way in search for technological advancements in industry, in search for basic human independence, in search for religious and spiritual belonging and has been in search for one’s authentic identity and heritage. 

Change has been inevitable and mankind has overcome barriers and obstacles in order to shift the scales of balance. Movements have come and gone and left their mark and influence. Modern man truly does live in interesting times where we have inherited layers upon layers of history and biases from those before us. These inherited biases guide how we think and mobilise as a community. Revolutions are happening constantly around the world each day, futuristic technology is altering how we exist, artificial intelligence is altering how we think.

In an era where ‘‘fake news’’ is ‘‘news’’ one gets to wonder what is actually true and real. Mankind is getting caught up with the virtual existence and is slowly detaching from that which is tangible, real and historically correct. This theme forces one to look themselves in the mirror and question if what you know about yourself is true. Africa in particular has been a victim of extreme misguided truths that have resulted in a loss of African authentic identity. The concept of fake news is not new to Africa and these distortions of truths had the objective of disassociating the Africans with their true strengths, heritage and beliefs. Enough of Africa’s true story has been distorted for personal Eurocentric agenda to destabilise our culture and beliefs from the roots by altering the psyche.    

The artists are thus challenged with the task of being a social commentator and contribute to the global discourse about topical areas that impact on the world. The artist is no longer in pursuit of purely culturally aesthetic agendas but has now a role to influence and challenge and redefine peoples perspectives of how to view or react to the world. The artist has always played a role of instigating thoughts and dialogue and this era in 2019 is the most appropriate time where change and truths are being revealed and questioned by the people. The theme directs the artist to create with dialogue in mind. The theme is highly conversational and initiates debate. The language of art speaks to volumes of people on diverse layers of understanding and appreciation but the main purpose is to stir up dialogue and share ones opinion on a global intellectual platform.  

Representing Zimbabwe’s artistic voice at the 58th Venice Biennale 2019 is Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Neville Starling, Georgina Maxim, and Cosmas Shiridzinomwa. These are four artists who have always had opinions, been reactive, have their ear to the ground and have story to tell. These certainly are indeed interesting times to be selected for the Venice Biennale 2019. These are times where art is not judged by media but by the layers of conceptual depth. Zimbabwe and Africa are very young on this international platform but both have made significant contribution to global discourse and artists have been very key in the exposure and challenging of what we perceived as truths.

The four artists will interpret the theme through an exhibition titled “Soko Risina Musoro,” which takes its name from a poem by Zimbabwean writer Herbert Chitepo. Raphael Chikukwa, chief curator at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe is the curator of “Soko Risina Musoro”, Doreen Sibanda, executive director of the National Gallery, is commissioner of the exhibition. “Soko Risina Musoro / A tale without a head”, echoes the theme ? “May you live in interesting times”. This gives rise to dialogues and questions what we have taught and promised. Memories and hope are challenged as one’s foundation is destabilised. Erosion of our authentic identity has resulted in a lost generation that finds it hard to trust the past as truth and fact are sketchy.

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