dyton mupawaenda
Talent Chimutambgi–Arts Reporter
Local visual artist Tinotenda Mabasa is preaching the adversity of climate change through designing artefacts that are educative on the implications to both flora and fauna.
Mabasa who was based in South Africa for almost a decade is now firm back in the country to achieve more in the arts space which is currently recognised in the country.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil and gas), which produces heat-trapping gases.
In an interview with The Herald Arts, Mabasa said he was determined to spread the effects of climate change through designs with the thrust to ensure everyone is aware.
The artefacts included humans as well as flora and fauna that are undergoing the ravaging effects of environmental changes across the globe.
“The designs are meant to spread a message on the potential adverse effects of climate change.
It is an existential threat to both human security and animals as well as the vegetation.
It’s also a human right issue with respect to current and potential threats and impacts with the context of the interlocking crisis,” said Mabasa.
Mabasa said his artworks would promote collaborative efforts to strategies to circumvent the implications for the betterment of the future.
“This change of climate is a major concern globally and is the talk of the world and our country is also participating in the efforts to mitigate the adverse effects.
States leaders converge annually to put heads together to pave a way forward,” he said.
Mabasa was in South Africa where he did much of his exhibitions and with some won on various exhibition platforms.
Most of Mabasa designs depict forests which are ravaged by veld fires, both domestic and wild animals that are in sorry state owing to climate change as well as some crops suffering from prolonged dryness.
Some of the designs portray Climate Proofed agriculture (Pfumvudza) which the Government introduces as a master strategy to counterbalance the adversity of environmental fluctuations.
Mabasa bemoaned the interactions of humans with the environment insisting they were not friendly.
He said man had become a victim of their inventions due to carbon emissions.
With respect to humans causing climate change, our interactions with the environment have never been friendly. Carbon emissions from transport, mining, energy and agriculture have upset the environment in the process,” said Mabasa. “The environment reacts in extreme ways when it is upset, first it withholds and gives less or more than enough or there might be excessive rainfall punctuated flooding and associated challenges. In light of this these artefacts will continue educating people of various groups to desist from activities that upset the environment,” he said. Mabasa asserted that climate change had an effect on human rights as they were deprived of their basic rights, adding as his depictions show. “Some of my works portray how climate change affected and impacted on the basic rights of the people. Climate change primary and secondary impacts manifest in excessive rainfall, flooding, droughts and destruction of infrastructure that is necessary and a pre-requisite for the enjoyment of specific rights by the holders. “These include the right to clean water, education, life, health, self-determination and right to food are all directly, or directly affected by climate change,” said Mabasa. Mabasa designs came at a time when Zimbabwe and the Southern Region were extremely ravaged by Cyclone Idai with a considerable number of people going missing.
Online Reporter