adminDr Tony Mhonda Art Zone
Amidst the burly, whirly and bustle of the informal motor in downtown a new art space is taking form. A new art form is taking place in unglamourous downtown between Samora and Kaguvi Streets, – a new art space and a new form of art is burgeoning at Njelele Gallery. This time a cutting-edge display of Afro-urban Mural Art and Graffiti greets the visitor in a burst of turquoise, orange, yellow and purple panels, spray painted with dope hip-hop statements – (as I overheard some urban youth say).
The last time I saw graffiti was 28 years ago in New York – real Graffiti and hip-hop, I experienced it all downtown Manhattan.
Graffiti is a part of life of most urban American and European youths and its used as a form of expression
In America there is a very big mural depicting the late rappers Notorious BIG and Tupac and its purpose is to preach peace.
More recently I was invited to Newtown, South Africa, courtesy of Hype Magazine, to review the “Sprite Uncontainable Battles” which featured Mzanzi’s hip-hop talent, complete with b-boys, MC’s, graffiti artists and popping crews as well as invited guest and lyrical genius Talib Kweli.
In South Africa graffiti is becoming very popular with the youths there and it’s conceived as an art form, well funded by the corporate world and other stakeholders. Though considered an art form by some, some people are against it as they say it pollutes the city and their sights.
The Sprite event unwrapped the “new” generation’s urban hip-hop culture to me.
Whilst it is important to keep up with youth and their art culture which could well become the language of the future, it is important to ask the question, should hip-hop and graffiti be considered art?
No longer considered an illegal activity carried out by creative misfits and malcontents.
Graffiti artists today are travelling from country to country and city to city,working on new decorative urban art projects in urban spaces, in their efforts to break the monotony of factory walling or the dull grey bulwarks of industry.
Watching the artists in action, at Njelele art station, spontaneously, proudly and loudly painting, spewing and spraying, what was on their minds and in their hearts, made one realise how the art of mural painting has become formalised art genre.
Art works attributed to artists with street-cred names like Aero5ol, Blak Phar-I and Ishe reminded me of Jean-Michel Basquiat aka SAMO the New York graffiti artist who changed the face of modern urban art in the 1980’s. Here, street Afro-psychedelia meets socio-politically charged works of Art.
The diverse and stimulating collection of paintings and spoken word performances, impart personality, colour and texture to the exhibition at Njelele Art Station and bring creative attention to areas of the community that have been abandoned and marginalised.
The exhibition is a creative happening of urban imaginative expression, which attempts to demonstrate that street art has the power to transform spaces into conducive and inspirational environments.
Acclaimed South Africa street artist , Breeze Yoko’s mural will covers an entire building at Njelele, in collaboration with young local street artists, Aero5ol, Blak Phar-I, Nigel and Ishe.
Inside the gallery the exhibition includes exciting new works by prominent established artists Misheck Masamvu, Portia Zvavahera, Calvin Dondo; all have exhibited extensively including the Venice Biennale alongside young emerging talent, Isheanesu Dondo and Erhuardt Muchemwa.
An uneasy painting of a zebra stripped flag with a picture of what might be a political leader posed like a cheap calendar-girl with nipple-caps et al begs the questions.
Why do so many young indigenous African artists feel the need to deride their leaders? Why? Why? The art project which aims to enhance the external surfaces of the inner urban environment, will take street art in Africa to the global main stage through regional co-operation between internationally-recognised South African street artists together with TUNE crew and Aero5ol who also co-curated the exhibition, and will represent Zimbabwe. The stimulating urban exhibition runs throughout November.
- Dr. Tony Monda holds a PhD. in Art Theory and Philosophy and a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in Post- Colonial Art and Heritage Studies. He holds a Law and Art Diploma from Georgetown University, Washington DC and worked with WALA –(Washington Area Lawyers Association.) He worked as an intern in Psychology of Art and Remedial Art Therapy at the Lafayette School of Art Therapy for the Mentally Handicapped Children, in New Orleans, US. He is an -author, art critic, art consultant and a practicing visual artist
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