dyton mupawaenda
Kundai Marunya-Arts Correspondent
Renowned visual artist Keith Zenda is courting the attention of corporates by painting a series of portraits of prominent business people.
This is in a bid to draw the attention of businesses to the value of art in society in hopes of creating a viable arts industry.
Zenda’s recent catalogue includes an oil on canvas portrait of South African entrepreneur Vusi Thembekayo during his recent visit to the country for the Zimbabwe Youth Conference last week.
He is finishing up on a painting of President Emmerson Mnangagwa based on the picture of his early years which is on the cover of his biography, ‘The Life of Sacrifice”.
Another of his recent works is a painting of controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo donning his apostolic sect garment while sitting in front of a Rolls Royce luxury vehicle.
The multi-award-winning visual artist said he was inspired by Chivayo a.k.a Sir Wicknell’s adherence to religion.
“The painting shows that Sir Wicknell is a man of faith and with all the wealth he has accumulated he appreciates God.
“Showing love to others for God is love.
“On this painting, you can see that he is at a place of worship with his best car; thus instead of driving the car to other places for pleasure, he drove the car to serve God.
“Sir Wicknell is an inspiration and role model to the youths in Zimbabwe”.
Zenda said he was also inspired by Chivayo’s generosity.
“I got inspired to paint Sir Wicknell after seeing his generosity,” he said.
“He gives to others so I felt obliged to give him this painting which took me three months to complete using oil on canvas”.
Zenda said he wishes to improve business people’s interest in art.
“My wish is to introduce quality art to our Zimbabwean business people so that they can appreciate art and support artists and also to understand that art is an investment for the painting always increases value with time,” he said.
Zenda is a self-taught visual artist who hails from Chirumhanzu and has against all odds gone on to win multiple awards.
He began his education at Chilimanzi Primary School, then transferred to Fairview Primary School in Somabhula before going on to do his secondary education at Siyahokwe Secondary in Chirumanzu.
Zenda became a full-time artist upon finishing Ordinary Level at Mambo High School in Gweru.
His great inspiration comes from the rural life background while his work also projects humanity and ubuntu.
He also portrays the essence of Africa and the nation’s rich culture and sense of belonging. Inspired to give artists from outside the country’s major cities a better chance at exposure, Zenda has established an art centre at Makepesi Business Center, Lower Gweru as a way of giving back to his community.
He works with aspiring artists from underprivileged backgrounds, nurturing them into the country’s future stars.
Zenda said he plans to set up more art centres across the country.
“I aim to establish more art hubs in remote rural areas so as to identify grass-roots talents and revive collapsing and forgotten arts, culture, and tradition which will aid in cultural exchange programmes,” he said.
“I want to create arts and culture centre that meet international standards all in line with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of living no one and no place behind”.
Keith Zenda is currently setting up another Art Hub located at 4176 Mkoba 17 Gweru.
“I’m financially challenged as I’m doing most of my work using proceeds from selling my art,” he said.
“I appeal to the Government and business sector to help me reach and impact more lives of young artists in rural Zimbabwe”.
Zenda’s international achievements include his recent exhibition in South Korea where he became the first artist to showcase contemporary African art in the country.
Online Reporter