Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
VISUAL artists Hugh and Lionel Mbayiwa are set to showcase their artistic prowess in their inaugural two-man exhibition titled ‘Dzemudanga’, which will open to the public on July 4 at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
Although currently based in different countries, Hugh lives in Harare and Lionel lives Cape Town, South Africa, the Mbayiwa brothers have collaborated on a body of work that seamlessly blends traditional art techniques with experimental compositions.
Having grown up in a small rural village, the brothers were immersed in folk tales and traditional stories from an early age.
These narratives now form the foundation of much of their artistic work.
In an interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, Lionel said their creative process is deeply personal and rooted in a need for healing after the death of their father.
He said their collection is bursting with vibrant colours, transfigurations and mythological themes that reflect a journey of cultural introspection and expression.
Colour in his work represents survival, hope and light emerging from a period of darkness.
“I grew up in a deeply religious Christian family, where we were taught to view our Africanness, specifically our heritage, as something to be feared or dismissed,” said Lionel.
“The narrative we inherited painted our ancestors as evil or powerless and our cultural practices as irrelevant
“But, as I matured, my brother and I began to question that narrative.
“I started researching, listening and learning. What I found wasn’t evil, it was a rich and meaningful cultural legacy that had simply been suppressed.”
That discovery became central to Lionel’s artistic expression.
His work often begins with loose sketching on canvas, deliberately leaving certain areas untouched to create room for silence, absence and introspection.
He engages in mark-making as a form of spiritual enquiry, rooted in his Zezuru heritage.
Lionel shared that he initially followed in Hugh’s footsteps and considered him his first teacher in art.
“I was introduced to art through Hugh. I admired his work so much that I began by painting like him. But moving away from home forced me to reflect on our roots and find my own voice.
“Being far from home brought me closer to where we come from.”
Although they now work in separate cities, their upbringing continues to shape their artistic identities.
Their collaboration, Lionel said, has evolved into one of mutual influence and reflection, like mirrors, rather than replicas.
“We hope viewers walk away with a deeper appreciation for family values, the idea that maoko anogezana.
“It’s about sharing, not imposing, and passing down our beliefs and creativity to younger generations so they can embrace and carry forward our culture through art.”
Hugh echoed this sentiment, acknowledging how migration and exposure to different cultures have led them to adopt diverse traditions and styles.
This has pushed them towards more experimental approaches in their creative journeys.
“Our work is traditional in the sense that most of what’s featured is a testament to our upbringing. But due to migration and interaction with other cultures, we’ve adopted different styles.
“This has led to experimental approaches as we search for satisfying modes of expression,” said Hugh.
Hugh described the experience of working with his brother as uniquely exciting.
Despite the physical distance, the emotional and spiritual bond between them remains unbreakable.
“Dzemudanga is not a competition but a collaborative platform that the National Gallery of Zimbabwe has offered us.
“We’re simply bringing our tools and responding to the opportunity. For me, art is a language, and colour is there under my invitation to punctuate and create dialogue.
“The details we use speak to the journey we’ve walked.”
For Hugh, ‘Dzemudanga’ is more than just an exhibition, it is a cultural package with the potential to positively impact not only the art scene but also the viewers and communities they represent.
“The message we’re trying to share through this method of broadcast will, we believe, reach the relevant audience and positively impact the art society and the general public.
“We’ll forever relate to this exhibition as a milestone in our careers, as artists and cultural representatives of our Mhondoro community,” Hugh said.
