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year’s theme Dudziro: Interrogating the Visions of Religious Beliefs, would really resonate with what is happening around the globe in terms of religion and their perspective is what is very important to the audience of the Zimbabwe Pavilion”, said Raphael Chikukwa, curator of the Zimbabwe Pavilion.
Virginia Chihota
Born in 1983 in Chitungwiza, near Harare, Virginia completed her primary and secondary education at schools in Chitungwiza. She completed a course in Fine Art at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in 2008, followed by a three-month residency at Greatmore Studios in Cape Town in 2004.
She has taken part in a number of exhibitions at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe curated by Raphael Chikukwa as well as various private galleries in Harare. She recently exhibited at the Lyon Biennale in France. Virginia predominantly works in paint on paper.
Portia Zvavahera
Born in 1985 at Juru Growth Point, near Harare, Portia Zvavahera attended Oriel Girls’ High School in Harare, where she completed her secondary education. She proceeded to the BAT Visual Arts Studio under the auspices of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe between 2003 and 2005. She furthered her training at the Harare Polytechnic where she majored in printmaking and painting and earned a first-class Visual Art Diploma in 2006.
In 2010, Zvavahera was invited to a tri-lingual printmaking workshop at Greatmore Art Studios in Cape Town, South Africa. She also attended History Matters workshop at the Centre for Contemporary Art in Lagos. Zvavahera can be classified as a neo-afro expressionist artist, whose works are laden with meaning and gestures that cover the themes of parental love, human isolation, historical injustices and indigenous religions.
Michele Mathison
Michele Mathison was born and raised in Zimbabwe. After completing his schooling, Michele studied art at the University of Cape Town, majoring in sculpting and graduating at the top of his class. He began collaborating with the furniture designer and close friend Gregor Jenkin and after three years, a successful coffee shop called Boat, and a design company down the line, Michele finally has the time to focus on his sculpting once again.
“I seem to have picked up exactly where I left off. A theme of abstract interruption of objects seems to run throughout my sculptures. I still view my art as a form of communication, continuously evolving as I evolve.”
Rashid Jogee
Rashid Jogee is a Zimbabwean painter and sculptor born to Indian parents in Bulawayo in 1951. After completing his schooling at Founders High School he worked under the mentorship of Derek Sherwood and moved on to work as a student teacher at the Mzilikazi Arts and Craft Centre in 1972.
In 1973, Rashid conscripted to the Rhodesian army and trained in the Medical Corps later serving as a medic in the war of independence. He also worked in the textile industry as a textile designer from 1974 to 1977. In pursuit of excellence in art, Rashid studied Applied Art and Design at the Bulawayo Technical College from 1980 to 1982.
He is an acclaimed artist who has participated in several local and international exhibitions that include Zimbabwe Heritage (1992), “AFRICAKIL KUTA” in Finland (1993), and “Cacon Africa” in Munich, Germany (2011), as well as art workshops that include: all
Pachipamwe International Art Workshops and the Thapong International Workshop in Botswana. Rashid has had several awards that include the Zimbabwe Heritage Award of Excellence (1992) and the Zimbabwe Award of Merit for Painting (1994).
Voti Thebe
Voti Thebe is a painter, graphic artist, sculptor and a textilist. Born in Bulawayo in 1953, Voti studied art at Mzilikazi Art and Craft Centre in Bulawayo from 1970-73.
He went on to study office management, management of the arts and Museum studies in Canada. As an artist, he has contributed immensely to raising the profile of contemporary Zimbabwean art. He has participated in exhibitions at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe and featured in “Visions of Zimbabwe” at Manchester Art Gallery in 2004, a groundbreaking exhibition curated by Raphael Chikukwa.
Voti has won several awards, including third prize at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in 1979, followed by a second prize in 1982. In 2003 he won the Outstanding Achievement in the Visual Arts Best Service Award from NAMA. Currently, Voti is working as Regional Director at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He is also a member of Visual Arts Association of Bulawayo.
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