Artists in brilliant show of creative imagination

creative imagination.
There has been a upsurge nationwide by artists who are not afraid to turn upside down the traditional ideas of the use of space, time and place, work which engages the most traditional of materials in an essentially post-modern dialogue and discourse.
This was crystal clear in a multimedia group exhibition which was officially opened by the Ambassador-Head of European Union (EU) Delegation to Zimbabwe Mr Aldo Dell’Ariccia at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) in Harare.
Themed “Continental Dialogues”, the art exhibition showcased numerous high-end artworks by visual artists from various parts of the country.
The show was sponsored by the EU to honour the relationship between Zimbabwe and the EU over the years as well as fund-raising for the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in partnership with the Friends of the National Gallery (FoG).
The exhibition was designed to bring together established media in daring ways, the striving for effect, the evolution of entirely new mediums for art.
At a Press conference held earlier on the opening day of the exhibition at the same venue, Mr Dell’Ariccia said the EU partnership with the gallery and FoG was testimony to the significance the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe attaches to cultural expression of Zimbabweans.
It also reflected the EU’s belief that the language of culture can contribute to articulating the feelings and experiences of the people in their quest for a peaceful and just society.
While selecting the artworks for the exhibition, the adjudicating team, which included the ambassador, deliberately sought to encourage female participation, testimony of their belief in and respect for gender equality. The ambassador paid tribute to the gallery and FoG for putting together the show and bringing such a concept into life in a spectacular fashion.
He also said that he had no doubt that the EU, the gallery and FoG partnership will grow further and become an important vehicle in promoting the cultural sector in the country while showcasing artists, both established and unknown.
There were prize incentives for outstanding artworks that went to “Unity in Diversity”, an abstract oil painting by renowned Daryl Nero which scooped the third prize. “Chit Chat”, a small semi-realistic pastel painting on paper by Boarding Dzinotyiweyi got the second while the first prize went to “Symbol of Existence”, a five-part wooden sculpture by Bulawayo-based young artist Tafadzwa Gwetai.
NGZ curator Raphael Chikukwa, who was also on the judges’ panel, explained how difficulty it was selecting the winners as any could have won on the day.
Chikukwa also acknowledged efforts by the EU to have the country represented and allocated a whole pavilion to exhibit Zimbabwean fine art at the Venice Biennale 2011.
Zimbabwe will be the first sub-Saharan African country to be granted this honour at the grand stage where the world’s greatest minds in fine arts come together.