Neo-pollution attracts 27 artists

The exhibition marks the association’s 25 years of annual exhibitions at the National Gallery in Bulawayo.
In an interview, the assistant curator of the gallery, Clifford Zulu, said the exhibition would be officially opened by the director of Alliance Francaise from South Africa.
“The director of Alliance Francaise from Johannesburg, South Africa, Georges Lory who is also the delegate of the Alliance Francaises in Southern Africa, will be the guest of honour at the event,” said Zulu.

Neo-pollution is an exhibition held jointly by Alliance Francaise and the National Gallery in Bulawayo.
It is an exhibition that challenges artists to identify new types of social, economic, political and environmental pollution.
It will also aim to motivate audiences, stir debate and find global solutions.

The exhibition would see both pioneers and budding artists coming together to exhibit their works.
“The exhibition will be divided into two, as we will have pioneers and upcoming artists on the other hand exhibiting their works
“VAAB pioneers like Rashid Jogee, Voti Thebe, Israel Israel, Dumisani Ndlovu and Charles Msimanga are amongst the 27 artists participating in the exhibition,” he said.

Zulu said outstanding artists would also be awarded during the exhibition.
“HIVOS through the Outreach Programmme will award best Female Artist for 2011 and National Gallery will award Young Artist of Promise amongst other compliments,” he said.

Zulu said his organisation was pleased to work with visual artists in Bulawayo.
“As the gallery we are pleased to be working closely with VAAB withstanding economic challenges and would want to congratulate them for 25 years in art.

“We also want to continue working with them so as to champion the development of arts in Matabeleland,” he said.
The exhibition will retrospect from the first official exhibition that was opened by Professor Cyril Rogers who was the then director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in 1987 after the association’s launch in 1986, to date.

The exhibition will run until the end of January next year.