Role of art, artists in society

application of creative skill and imagination, especially through a visual medium such as painting, sculpture or any work produced in this way.
Art is also a cultural language that can contribute to articulating the feelings and experiences of the people in their quest for a peaceful and just society. Therefore, the approach to art should be from the standpoint of the individual, as well as from that of the social group.
On the other hand, art education is a means of securing mental and emotional balance in living. This in turn makes an artist one who has the ability and desire to transform his visual perception into expression in a material form.
The art experiences engaged by an artist should not only help the individual to be a greater source of material as well as spiritual satisfaction to himself, but it should also help to make him a better citizen in the community or environment in which he comes from.
Since art is also a synthetic, its influence on the new social order will be constructive, for example designing.
Designing may be considered as a mental conception of what will need to be done to secure a balanced living.
The principles of balance will need to be applied to everyday problems, the problems of selection, of arrangement, of understanding, of appreciation, of expression and of creation.
Art as an aesthetic object, every artist is there to consider self-realisation by being creative and devoted to his artistic work as artistic taste is the road that leads to attractive personal appearance to personality.
The education in art is directed toward the realisation of beauty in individual conduct, which will result in improved personality through expression, imagination, appreciation, taste, information, recreation etc.
For one to be a good artist he or she must practise good relationships with others, like getting on with others in society by co-operation, courtesy, leadership, sharing, and good morals.
One also has to learn about mastering through their finest works, understanding the various contemporary cultures by becoming familiar with particular examples of their art.
Today, Zimbabwe continues to have numerable artists who have been leading by example, giving back to society; artists who have been uplifting the aspiring young and upcoming as well as the struggling established artists.
Since time immemorial in African traditions, vessels of wisdom pass on knowledge and skills of life for generations, astonishingly there is still continuation of the tradition even in these modern times. In the late 1950s the country had a director of the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe (Frank McEwen), who established a workshop school of art for the gallery’s attendants.
They were provided with various materials and tools to work with to become artists.
The gallery school attracted more artists as it exposed them to the international arena by exhibiting their work overseas and with other international artists as well as their work.
These artists became internationally renowned and role models not only in their communities but in the country as a whole.
In 1968 the wife of the director of the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe bought a farm in the Eastern Highlands and invited aspiring and recognised artists from the surrounding areas to come and work freely on provided stones and tools for sculpture.
Some of the artists went on to become established as their work enabled them to travel across continents and swam waters of publicity and turned providers for some in their communities.
In recent past, one of the country’s most accomplished artists, Dominic Benhura, established his own art studios in Harare by converting one of his houses to become a place where a troupe of senior and young generation artists could come and work for free in the ideal artistic environment.
Tom Blomefield, who mined rocks of various colours and texture, established Tengenenge Sculpture Community in 1966.
When Blomefield retired he sold the Tengenenge sculpture business to Benhura who has since been improving the livelihood of the community as well as infrastructure.
He has also provided for his former primary school by availing loads of books and the construction of a school library.
He has other artistic establishments that provide employment for a considerable number of people.
l Stephen Garan’anga, is an international fine art practitioner, independent art projects co-ordinator, chairperson of AfricanColours Artists, executive member Batapata International Artists’ Workshop, critical visual arts writer amongst other things. [email protected]