Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu [email protected]
FOR many visual artists, the toughest battles are not always fought on the canvas or through their chosen mediums.
Behind the artworks displayed in galleries often lie personal struggles with self-doubt, creative fatigue, financial uncertainty and the isolation that can accompany a career built around personal expression.
Seeking to create a space where these realities can be openly discussed, National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) in Bulawayo resident artist Abigail Nyasha Hunda will host an intimate gathering titled “Artist, Tea and Talk” on August 5.
Rather than following the traditional format of exhibitions or formal artist talks, the event will provide a relaxed, peer-to-peer platform where creatives can meet over tea, exchange experiences and openly discuss their work, challenges and creative journeys.
Hunda said the idea grew out of conversations she has had with artists and visitors during her residency at the gallery, where many shared struggles they often carry alone.
“As a resident artist at the National Gallery, I meet a lot of people who come through my studio. They often talk about feeling creatively blocked, losing inspiration or facing challenges that feel isolating. I realised that many artists don’t know others are going through the same things until we sit down and actually talk,” she said.
Artists in Zimbabwe’s creative sector continue to grapple with inconsistent incomes, limited exhibition opportunities, rising material costs and the pressure to constantly produce new work despite constrained resources. Alongside these practical challenges are emotional hurdles such as self-doubt, comparison and the fear of losing one’s artistic identity.
For Hunda, the answer was simple, creating a space where artists can pause, connect and support one another. The gathering aims to foster an environment where vulnerability is viewed as a source of strength and connection rather than a weakness.
A herbal entrepreneur in addition to her artistic practice, Hunda said tea naturally became part of her interactions with studio visitors before evolving into the inspiration behind the event.
“I naturally started offering my guests herbal teas during studio visits. I find them soothing and grounding. It became a little ritual, and the more I practised it, the more I saw how deeply it mattered for connection. I wanted to bring that to a larger scale,” she said.
Participants have been encouraged to bring their favourite cup and a small gift for another attendee, while homemade herbal teas and snacks prepared by Hunda will help create a warm and informal atmosphere.
Hunda hopes the initiative will extend beyond its inaugural edition and become a regular feature on Bulawayo’s arts calendar.
“My ultimate goal is to make artists feel less disconnected and alone, to give them a soft break where they can just breathe and connect with no heavy expectations,” she said.
She said she is personally funding the first edition because she believes meaningful initiatives often begin with generosity.
“For now, I’m covering the teas and snacks myself because I believe in starting with generosity. If this space feeds people and they would like to help keep the kettle on for the next one, small contributions are warmly welcomed, entirely optional and never expected,” she said.
The initiative comes at a time when conversations around mental wellbeing within the creative industries are gaining momentum, with more artists recognising the importance of community, emotional support and meaningful engagement. Unlike many professions where colleagues interact daily, visual artists often spend long periods working independently, making opportunities for connection particularly valuable.
Hunda believes the gathering is not only for practising artists but also for art enthusiasts who appreciate the creative process.
“Apart from being artists or art lovers, above all, we are human beings who need connection and camaraderie, especially in the middle of struggle. No one is truly an island, and we can’t allow ourselves or others to live as such,” she said.
She added that listening to how fellow artists overcome creative obstacles could provide much-needed encouragement to those facing similar challenges.
“There’s something incredibly freeing about sitting in a room with people who get it. Seeing someone else wrestle with a block, or hearing how they pushed through, can be the exact spark someone needs to keep going.”
With the kettle set to boil on August 5, Hunda hopes the conversations that follow will inspire renewed creativity, stronger relationships and a more connected artistic community in Bulawayo.
