New private gallery opens

The new entity officially opened its doors to the arts fraternity on Saturday with a remarkable debut exhibition.
Speaking to Chronicle Entertainment, the founder and director of the gallery, Chengetai Makuni, said she came up with the idea after realising that the arts industry was suffocating due to lack of space for artists to showcase their creative works.

“I came up with this idea four years ago after I realised that there were a few places and structures to support the arts industry in Bulawayo and eventually I sought for a space to support my idea,” said Makuni.
The exhibition runs under the theme Turning Point.
“By Turning Point we are saying here is a turning point and pure transformation for the arts industry. The gallery has brought a lot of diversity hence art enthusiasts will have something to look forward to,” she explained.

About 13 artists, some from as far as the capital Harare and Gweru, have their works displayed at the new gallery.
Gareth Nyandoro, Portia Zvavahera and Gina Maxim are from Harare while Godwell Mkandla is based in Gweru.
Collins Chitaka, Aubrey Bango, Dumisani Ndlovu, Alfred Ellard and Shamilla Aasha are some of the local artists to have their works showcased at the new gallery.

The curator of the gallery, award winning visual artist Tafadzwa Gwetai, said the exhibition was a challenge to the artists to diversify their works and move away from the usual art.
“Turning Point is a challenge to the artists to reach a point of creation where absolute revolution and deviation from the norm occurs, Turning Point being the point of a revolving change,” he said.
He said the aim of the exhibition was to give an altered perspective of the arts and state of mind.

“This is when a person reaches a point of self-actualisation or a stage of regeneration where one can revisit and retrace their actions and creations.
“Transformation Unlocked”, being the introduction of untapped ideas and art forms, reformation and re-conceptualisation of an already existing idea or theory as a way of growth or progress towards new ideas and rejuvenation of old ones,” said Gwetai.

He said as art was always evolving, the challenge to the artiste was to adapt to the new environment.
“Art in itself is ever changing and is always a growing subject therefore making the artist a complex intellectual always finding new ways, be it in medium or technique used to stand out as an individual or express a topic already visited by other artists.

“Turning Point is a metamorphosis of the artist and the art form from one stage to another transcending to greater heights,” he said.
He said the purpose of the exhibition was to give the artiste freedom to assume another identity parallel to their signature.

“Turning Point can be interpreted differently from one artist to another, some find a spiritual meaning where others find an emotional, physical or mental meaning giving rise to a revolution in the arts in and around Bulawayo. The primary aim of Turning Point is to stimulate a shift in the mind and product of the artists,” said Gwetai.
The visual artists in the city celebrated their 25th anniversary recently and this gives them another platform to shine and showcase their talent.