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Lovemore Meya Arts Correspondent
“Artists are born and are never created.” The above phrase aptly sums up the immensely, undiluted talent that was exuded by five prominent African and European artists whose works are on display at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe’s Basket Showcase II.
The exhibition, which was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga will be running till December 15.
Running under the theme “A Collaborative Experience: Beautiful Timeless” the exquisite artworks are labelled in different languages telling the ancient history of basket art. Our own veteran artist Tapfuma Gutsa showed that he is the cut above the rest.
With titles like “Mapatya”, “Cocoon” , “Dura Rakamba” and the most striking “Saint Sebastian,” Gutsa’s ability to diversity and agility can be seen through his symbols, designs and meaning.
He fuses wood, reeds and logs, while for visiting Nigerian artist Ifeoma Anyaeji’s depth of creativity is beyond the imagination of many.
This could be seen in her close hand working with ilala leaves, sisal, plastic bags, discarded plastic bottles, found wood came up with a piece called “Asiwafuni Amavila” a four-panel room divider that could be also appropriated into a small both. It appears like the makeshift outdoor bathrooms. Delaine Le Bas from the United Kingdom’s “Kumvwa Kukumuna Kwakwe/ Her Real Roar” a life-size figure, a body and tailed dress made out of a mixture of different processes of basket making. On the same piece, the figure’s head have patterns of a leopard skin making it an eye-catching.
Alexandra Bircken’s “Scania”’ which resembles a kitchen hut on a pushcart decorated with thatching interlinking grass on three levels at the top.Matali Crasset from France did gourd basket and developed several objects that almost seem like natural evolutions of the gourde basket. She exhibited this ion her pieces like “Matopos” which resembles rock hills on top of each other.
For Michel Paysant who calls her work “The Black Project” does her mastery through writing an alphabet composed of pixels that radiate in a circle to match the shape of a basket. To all art lovers, it is this time they should have a feel of the real talent in basket showcase as it is being exhibited by these great artists.
Online Reporter