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Kundai Marunya
Arts Correspondent
Emerging visual artist Option Nyahunzvi is in Venice, Italy for the Africa 1-1 residency programme which runs until the end of May.
Nyahunzvi, who has been travelling to different countries on programmes that sharpen his world view and his art work, is one of seven African artists selected for the programme which has been running from March 15 and will end on May 30.
Africa 1-1 is held in collaboration with Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art, AKKA Project and Africa First.
It targets emerging artists hoping to gain inspiration from the city of Venice and the unique collection of Ca’ Pesaro that was built, in the most part, on artists exhibiting at the Venice Biennale over the past century.
“The residency is, therefore, a unique opportunity to spend time in a historically significant place for the history of art, with a rich tradition of discovering the artists of the future, from across time and cultures,” reads the residency’s statement.
“As part of the Africa 1-1 residency programme, artists will have the opportunity to spend time within the Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art and gain access to its grand collection and broad historical archives.”
Nyahunzvi said he was delighted to be part of the programme.
“I’m excited to be part of this residency programme as it opens my eyes to a whole new world different from the one I live in and gives me access to art I’ve only read of in books,” he said.
“As part of the programme I’m tasked to study the collection of Ca’ Pesaro to select an artist or a work that sparks my imaginations. From it, I will produce a body of work (six-12 pieces) that is in dialogue with the chosen work/artist.
“It’s indeed a challenge that will broaden my scope and horizon.”
Nyahunzvi’s work is predominantly centred on African identity, specifically created around his zebra totem. It will be interesting how the zebra will find its stripes in a creative jungle rich in century old art and culture.
Selected pieces of what Nyahunzvi creates in Venice will be exhibited side by side with the big masters at the Ca’ Pesaro galleries.
The Ca’ Pesaro exhibition will be inaugurated during the opening of the Biennale of Architecture 2023 in Venice, running from May 18-November 26, 2023.
The Biennale is curated by academic, educator and best-selling novelist Lesley Lokko, founder of the African Futures Institute.
Apart from the world class exhibition, which will undoubtedly elevate Nyahunzi’s profile, some of his work will be selected to be part of a permanent collection at Ca’ Pesaro.
“Towards the end of the residency, the curatorial committee will review the works produced and select the works that will be exhibited at Ca’ Pesaro.
“Of the selected works, three will be allocated to the permanent collections of Ca Pesaro, AKKA and Africa First (one work each),” reads the residency statement.
“For the remaining works AKKA, Africa First and the artist will collectively agree on retail pricing and the works will be sold by either AKKA or Africa First.
“Copyright in the works remains the property of the artist and such rights shall not be sold, licenced or otherwise dealt with without the written authorisation of the artist.
“Buyers of works will be granted permission to reproduce images of the acquired works for non-commercial purposes.”
Nyahunzvi will also have an opportunity to have two solo exhibitions in the three year period following the Ca Pesaro exhibition, in the four territories where the organisers have bases and galleries, namely Italy, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Israel.
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