Online Reporter
Gift Moyo, [email protected]
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo is set to host its annual featured exhibition, Mirrors and Windows, an artistic exploration of identity, self-perception and the ways people are viewed by society.
Opening on July 31, the exhibition brings together works by a new generation of Zimbabwean artists, including Reneiloe Tshuma, Keith Zenda, Florah Maphosa, Mildred Gwakwara, Alison Beker, Leonard Dube, Kevin Maponga, Bokani, Samuel Sifani, Praise Zulu, Mthandazo Alson Ngwenya and Simphiwe Munyaradzi Moyo.
Curated by Rinako Shirai, the exhibition uses the concepts of mirrors and windows as metaphors for understanding identity – the mirror representing self-reflection, while the window symbolises how individuals are perceived by others.
Shirai said the exhibition seeks to examine the complexities of identity by exploring the relationship between internal self-awareness and external perception.
“Mirrors and windows are identities. Identity is a mirror we hold up to ourselves and a window through which others see us. This exhibition will explore multiplicity and the spaces in between. It emphasises both self-exploration and outward perception and invites introspective and outward-facing work,” said Shirai.She added that the exhibition challenges audiences to reflect on questions surrounding belonging, representation and the difference between who people believe they are and how they are seen by others.
“Who do we see when we look at ourselves, and how do we belong in spaces where others define us? What is the gap between our inner selves and how we are perceived? These both play a major role in our existence, hence a time to see through mirrors and windows of what’s out there, how we see ourselves and what is within,” she said.
Shirai said the featured artworks collectively create a broader narrative, with each piece contributing to the exhibition’s central conversation around reflection, perception and belonging.
“Some of the storylines in this exhibition feature artworks depicting reflections, mirrored life and refracted images. Who do we see in ourselves? Reflection, perception and belonging,” she said.
She highlighted Mildred Gwakwara’s piece The Opening (Masuo): A Ten-Fold Sacrifice as one of the works that strongly captures the exhibition’s themes. The artwork explores both physical and emotional transformation, reflecting the journey from struggle to release.
Shirai also identified Bulawayo-based artist Reneiloe Tshuma as one to watch, praising her ability to explore identity beyond physical appearances.
“Reneiloe uses metaphor to investigate the subtleness of self-representation, othering and belonging, symbolising the soul rather than the body. While a mirror reflects our physical form, it does not disclose our soul, our brain or the emotional intricacies that define us,” she said.
She explained that Tshuma’s work challenges audiences to look beyond visible identities and consider the unseen experiences that shape individuals.
“Reneiloe’s work delves into the unseen self that lives beyond physical, social and provincial limits, asking how we navigate belonging in environments where identity is continually understood and frequently defined by others,” Shirai said.
The National Gallery has invited art enthusiasts to attend the exhibition and engage with the different interpretations of identity presented by the participating artists.
“We encourage you to look into the gaps between self-perception and external sight in Mirrors and Windows. The artists investigate the diversity of identity through reflections, refractions and the invisible,” said Shirai.
