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TOP art collector, Jennifer Chiriga, will come under the spotlight next week when she holds a Pan African exhibition of contemporary art in Mt Pleasant, Harare.
Arguably the first black woman in Zimbabwe to host such an exhibition highlighting the plight of women, the event will run from March 13 to 14 at Art@84 Gallery.
Coinciding with Women’s Month, Chiriga, who runs Boniso Art Gallery, has opted to showcase her collection at Art@84.
She firmly believes that her exhibition will be a game-changer after years of collecting various exceptional quality art pieces.
In an interview with Zimpapers ahead of the exhibition, Chiriga said it was all time systems go.
“We are ready for the event that will be a celebration depicting women’s creativity,” Chiriga shared.
“I was inspired by my son, Frank, who has a passion for art, and I started collecting art pieces as far as Ethiopia.
“I then decided to collect more of these art pieces that I have been keeping at Boniso Art Gallery.
“I am only an art collector but I am willing to learn how to make it.”
Added Chiriga: “The inspiration to buy art began when I bought two pieces back in 2011, intending to keep them as gifts for my son Frank, who was deeply creative and loved art passionately. I believe my passion as a collector grew during the process of trying to heal my soul and spirit after losing Frank in 2013 in a tragic traffic accident at the age of 24. My love of art flourished because it reminded me of, and honoured, Frank’s passion for it, and those two paintings I bought for him have become the most prized possessions in my entire collection.
“I collect art that resonates with me as an observer, and every piece I have purchased does so because it resonates with my spirit; I personally find it beautiful to look at. Throughout my travels on the African continent, I have been privileged to witness firsthand the incredible artistic talent that Africa has to offer the world — art pieces with aesthetic, cultural, and market value.”
Chiriga, who has extensively toured Africa collecting exceptional quality art pieces, praised visual art for its power in storytelling and addressing major issues affecting people.
Being Women’s Month, she has ensured that it does not go unnoticed, as art enthusiasts will have an opportunity to celebrate some of her finest works gathered across Africa. Behind every artwork is a story, and behind Boniso Art Gallery is Jennifer Chiriga — a collector who believes that art preserves memory, perspective, and presence.
According to her curatorial statement, Boniso Art, which falls under Chiriga, has been recognised as a Pan-African collection of contemporary art, hand picked over a period of more than a decade from several countries across Africa.
This collection features the work of emerging artists from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, The Gambia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
What has enhanced the appeal of this event is that it will be the first-ever exhibition held in collaboration with Art@84 in Mount Pleasant, a colourful, family-friendly community space that serves as both an art gallery and a creative space for artists and art lovers alike.
Additionally, Art@84 Gallery’s ambiance is an ideal creative art space perfect for Chiriga’s exhibition, which aims to inspire local visual artists.
Curated by celebrated NAMA Award winner Merilyn Mushakwe, the two-day pop-up exhibition, themed “And Still They Rise,” as coincided with International Women’s Day, which celebrates women worldwide.
This exhibition will offer a glimpse into part of a larger collection of unique paintings of women — a timely celebration of the emotions, beauty, and creativity of women as daughters, sisters, and mothers, according to Chiriga.
Event organisers expressed their confidence that Boniso Art Gallery will continue to build an exciting collection of contemporary art from across the continent.
The exhibition comes at a time when the demand for African art has increased.
Chiriga’s exhibition serves as a precursor to the 58th Conference of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM), scheduled for this year at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
At least 300 global museum directors and curators will gather under one roof, where artworks from various African countries will also be sold.
As for Chiriga, she has made a significant impression by valuing and collecting art pieces, which the NGZ has been championing.
It’s also refreshing to see local art collectors of Chiriga’s calibre making an impact in the visual arts sector that has traditionally depended on foreign support.
