Source: African art takes its place globally: VP Mohadi – herald
Nyore Madzianike in VENICE, Italy
AFRICAN artists have earned their place on the global stage and are proving that they can compete with the best in the world, Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi has said.
Speaking yesterday after touring various exhibitions at the Arsenale Pavilion at the ongoing 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, VP Mohadi said the continent’s artists possess the talent, expertise and foundations needed to continue raising Africa’s profile internationally.
The exhibition is being held under the theme: “In Minor Keys.”
“Well, I am very proud of Africa. There are quite a number of exhibitors here from the African continent, the entire continent,” VP Mohadi said.
“But even Southern Africa itself has actually exhibited quite a lot. There is this lady from South Africa (Helen Sibidi), who I’m told is turning 82 now; she has got some work, quite a massive array of work within this Arsenale.
“So, I am very much impressed by that. It also means that in Zimbabwe, we can even do better than what we are doing now.”
VP Mohadi added that Zimbabwe has the artists and the know-how “and we have got the basics with which we can do better”.
“So, we are here benchmarking, as I said yesterday (Tuesday). But I am very much impressed by what our artists are doing, what the region is doing, also what the continent is doing.
“We have actually taken our place internationally; that this is Africa and as Africa we can do it,” he said.
The VP also said he was impressed by exhibitions from Latin America, noting that many of the artefacts on display reflected strong African influences and historical links to the continent.
“The other thing that really impressed me most was the exhibition from the Southern part of America, Latin America.
“They all depicted African sort of artefacts, which means that even though they are now whatever they call themselves out there as Latin Americans, but the roots are still back home because what they depict is very much African,” he said.
VP Mohadi said the artworks showcased at the exhibition carried diverse messages, including themes of spirituality, identity and humanity’s connection with the universe.
“There are quite a number of messages that they convey. Part of the message is that they try to convey the connection of us, as human beings, with the universe,” he said.
“How we connect and how we have been. They actually depict everything. You find that back home, we do not really talk more about other gods or other powers.
“But here, they show; you go to Southeast Asia, you go to China, they depict quite a lot of what they call gods or what they call powers, spiritual powers.
“So, we are learning quite a lot”.
At the Arsenale Pavilion, VP Mohadi toured exhibitions by artists from Cameroon, South Africa, Kenya, Barbados, the United States of America and Brazil, among others.
He was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in his Office, Dr Benson Martins Dube, Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Anselem Sanyatwe and other Government officials.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Italy, Ms Mietani Chauke, and National Gallery of Zimbabwe executive director Mr Raphael Chikukwa led the delegation during the tour.
Today, VP Mohadi is expected to tour the Zimbabwe Pavilion at Santa Maria della Pietà, where Eva Raath, Pardon Mapondera, Franklyn Dzingai, Felix Shumba and Gideon Gomo are exhibiting under the theme, “The Nature/Manyonga.”
More than 4 000 people have been visiting the Zimbabwe Pavilion every week since the exhibition opened to the public on May 9.
Zimbabwe first participated in the Venice Biennale in 2011 and has maintained a consistent presence at the international exhibition ever since.
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