From Ngozi Mine to Main Street

The artist, who is now approaching his late 40s, spent most of his years doing fine art, which included landscape, portraits and figure drawing.
In an interview, Dube said his art reflects what was left over of the African traditional handicraft.

“My art depicts what was left of African  traditional handicraft through batik painting, sculpting of wooden and iron images of animals and figures as   well.
“I used to work with other artists when I was based in Botswana and that was during the economic meltdown, when making ends meet was a challenge,” he said.
The artist said the marketing strategy for artists based in Botswana was very good as they were given the opportunity to work under one organisation where a magazine was compiled and distributed to every gallery in Botswana.

“I really must say the marketing strategy in Botswana was very commendable, because as artists we used to get together at various exhibitions where we would exhibit our works. I must say it received a positive response from the tourists.
“Just to mention some of the exhibitions that I was part of is at Gallo Centre in 2005 where I exhibited my batiks, Clifton School Art Exhibition, which commenced on the 18th of May 2009 and I exhibited quite a number of portraits,” he said.
After stumbling on a number of obstacles, Dube  then decided to bring his work back home and he sought aid from the national gallery director, Voti  Thebe, who described Dube as a fine artist of  note.

Dube went on to thank Thebe for the support he had given and Thebe’s contribution to the art sector in the city.
“I would like to thank the director of the gallery for everything he has done for me and the upliftment of arts in the city,” he said.
Dube also pleaded with the government, through the arts and culture department, to intervene and try to promote arts through workshops where artists from all over Africa and abroad get to meet and exhibit their works and get exposure.

“I wish the government could intervene and organise workshops where we get to meet other artists from all over Africa and abroad, which I think is good for exposure,” he said.
Thebe believes one of their newly engaged artists, Dube, will help up-and-coming artists attain exposure in the industry.

“From the very day I saw Dube’s works when he came here in search of a studio, I knew he has what it takes to work with us and help expose other artists to certain art disciplines,” he said.
Thebe said the possibility of having a magazine to market artists like the one in Botswana could be achieved, but they had not reached that stage, but would consider such a stance.

“As National Gallery in Bulawayo, we had not            reached that stage, but we do have an Insight  at the Gallery where our artists get to exhibit their works.
“Coming up with such a magazine is possible though it is a challenge,” he said.

Thebe also expressed his gratitude to National Arts Council of Zimbabwe’s (NACZ) Bulawayo office  for the unwavering support they had shown over the years.
“I would like to thank the arts council together  with corresponding centres for their unwavering assistance in grooming and nurturing talent in Bulawayo.

“It is my wish that youth centres could be set up even in up-and-coming suburbs such as Cowdray Park and Emganwini so that every talent can be absorbed into one grooming centre,” he said.