German-Zimbabwe art partnership bears fruit

BILATERAL relations between Germany and Zimbabwe are bearing massive artistic fruits with the latest chapter being that of the Reignold Hemker-led German Zimbabwe Society, and the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ).

The partnership has resulted in Bulawayo-based painter, Nonhlanhla “Nonny” Mathe touring and organising three exhibitions in Ahaus, Germany, since May 24. Her tour is scheduled to end on Saturday.

Dubbed “Ikhotha Eyikhothayo” the exhibitions in Germany see women of Zimbabwe being given a platform to showcase their artistic pedigree.

In an interview, the Zimbabwe German Society’s project coordinator, Reverend Kerstin Hemker said the idea was to expose up-and-coming artists to the bigger stage.

“Nonny has been received very well in Germany and the idea behind all of this is to try to show people in Germany that there are great artists besides the well-known sculptors. Her exploits in the artistic field prompted two organisations to invite her to Germany to organise exhibitions with her.

“The Evangelical Church district of Steinfurt-Coesfeld-Borken is the partner of the Eastern Diocese of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Zimbabwe. They are the ones who financed Nonny’s flight and the catalogue about her and women in Zimbabwe,” Rev Hemker said.

Mathe, who is a product of the NGZ in Bulawayo showcased her work at a museum and church, with the exhibition officially opened by the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Germany, Alice Mashingaidze.

In a recent interview with our sister paper, Sunday News, Nonny said the gallery has been her haven for a long time.

“I have been painting for quite a long time ever since I left school. I have been a child of the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo for a very long time and I grew up painting from there. I have done exhibitions nationally in various cities, regionally in Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa both in group and solo exhibitions,” she shared.

Reverend Kerstin Hemker and her husband Reignold Hemker are Zimbabwe’s tourism ambassadors after being tourists to Zimbabwe for a long time.

Last year, the German Embassy collaborated with Ekhaya Gaia in Bulawayo for the “From Huts to Pots” project with the hope of contributing to the preservation and greater visibility of the stunning Ndebele artform of home decoration. Recently, Germany’s Theater Strahl and Zimbabwe’s Iyasa collaborated on a climate change-themed theatre production titled “How is the weather?” further cementing how strong bilateral ties are between the countries. — @MbuleloMpofu