Zimbabwe's Cheuka Harare Art Fair: A Mirror of Creative Resurgence
NATIONAL Arts Merit Awards (Nama) winner for the Best Visual Art Exhibition Admire Kamudzengerere has labelled Cheuka Harare Art Fair, recently held at the Harare Show Grounds, an opportunity for local art lovers and curators to fully explore the abundant cultural diversity in the arts industry.
Kamudzengerere, who was a co-organizer, stated that individuals should attend in large groups to back future installations of the art exhibition.
He said Harare Agricultural Show Grounds activities usually brought together more than 200 000 people in space of one week and the Cheuka Harare Art fair shared the audience with the giant Nama23 event.
The fair is rooted in the Shona word "cheuka", which means reflect, look back or reconsider.
This invites us to stop and analyze: to contemplate how far Zimbabwean art has progressed, to value its current state, and to envision ambitiously what lies ahead for it.
"Our strategy wasn’t about developing a particular creative response; instead, it aimed to provide various curators with the chance to showcase the diverse cultural artworks they could find within their local area," explained Kamudzengerere.
Our approach is inspired by the Cape Town Art Fair, a significant exhibition that showcases randomly selected artifacts from Africa and around the world. We have gathered creations from various artist-led venues with the deliberate aim of guiding and enhancing artists' skills as well as fostering their talents.
Galleries operate as commercial establishments protected by various regulations, including the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act, along with privacy obligations. Access to these spaces can be challenging; therefore, the Cheuka Harare Art Fair offers greater opportunities for numerous visual artists to gain recognition.
The Cheuka Art Fair emerged not merely as an exhibit but as a vibrant repository of narratives, feelings, politics, identities, and traditions. Every painting, statue, display, or act stands as evidence to the endurance and transformation of Zimbabwe’s artistic spirit amidst economic, societal, and governmental hurdles.
Merilyn Mushakwe noted that the first-ever art fair mirrors numerous well-regarded shows and events held internationally.
We aim to acknowledge the diverse creative output from various studios and collectives within Harare and across the entire country," stated Mushakwe. "Therefore, the Cheuka Harare Art Fair serves as an opportunity for both local and global artists to showcase their work.
The Cheuka Harare Art Fair included various exhibitions like the Mapondera Collection, featuring pieces from artists including Kombo Chapfika, Amanda Shingirai Mushate, and Tamary Kudita. Another exhibit at Gallery 33.0 focused on "Creating Space" with contributions from Kundai Nathan, Shalom Kufakwatenzi, Mercy Moyo, and Primrose Chiringandu. Meanwhile, Bepa Gallery presented an exhibition titled “Construct,” displaying work by Lomedy Mhako, Zibusiso Tshuma, Kressiah Mukwazhi, Samurai Farai, and Ishmael Hajea Mposa.
Comments
Post a Comment