adminFaith Mandizha
Evans Tinashe Mutenga is a star in the making in the visual art world, with his unique approach to art-making.
Instead of using traditional materials, he creates stunning pieces from scraps of street wall posters.
His art carries a message on environmental consciousness and honours forgotten Zimbabwean heroes.
Mutenga is currently working on the Go Green Exhibition on climate change and is well-known for uplifting young artists.
“Art is who I am. I had to go to school to advance my skills and I currently have a series of portraits called Comrades and Friends which depict the unknown soldiers who died during the liberation struggle.
“The streets inspired me since I couldn’t afford to buy material for my projects, so I just had to work with what I had and I noticed that the city’s walls are full of old posters, so I use the texture like red juices which remain after removing the posters from walls.
“If you’re in the art industry, you’re a tool for the unknown. One has a creative mind-set to have a unique style and art is usually side-lined since people assume it’s for white people, and that it’s a waste of time. However, art is also a communication channel,” he said.
His art already has a large following, with people from all walks of life blown away by his talent and creativity.
His pieces are displayed in galleries around the country, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s recognised as a major player in the contemporary art world soon.
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge