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Raphael Chikukwa
The visual arts community was recently shaken by the death of Helen Lieros, an artist of great repute, and Derek Huggins, an administrator and writer.
Lieros and Huggins, who were husband and wife, were the co-founders of Gallery Delta, arguably the first independent gallery in the country, which they ran over the last 46 years.
Lieros and Huggins arrived in Harare in 1967, from Gweru, where they had met and initiated the Circle Group, which in resistance of Frank McEwen’s sculptural inclinations; encouraged painters in the land to practice with a space that accepted artists from all walks of life, in a period where most painters were turning to sculpture such as Thomas Mukarobgwa.
In 1975, Gallery Delta came into its present iteration as it shifted from being a ragtag group of artists to being a fully-fledged gallery.
Huggins would become the chief executive officer of the National Arts Foundation, which, after Independence, became the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
Lieros would evolve her style; drawing influences from her Greek heritage, which she was fervent about; infusing her works with highly textural elements and Zimbabwean cultural motifs.
Her contribution to visual art within the republic would not go unnoticed, as she was the first recipient of the President’s Award of Honour at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in 1990, and the recipient of a National Arts Merit Award on several occasions.
The two stalwarts became a fixture in Zimbabwean art; having being the first independent gallery, they concentrated their later careers in training several artists such as Berry Bickle, Greg Shaw, Cosmas Shiridzinomwa, Gina Maxim, Misheck Masamvu,Tafadzwa Gwetai, Admire Kamudzengerere and Richard Mudariki being among their mentees.
Of note, one may point out their long term development initiatives in artistic training would lead to newer independent operators like Village Unhu, House of Menka, Art Harare and Animal Farm Art Residency were directly linked to the influence of Gallery Delta Foundation for Humanities.
The history of Zimbabwean art also lived by their initiation of Gallery Magazine, which was published from 1994 to 2002, which was printed twice a year and has been archived to the Gallery Delta website, in 31 issues.
It has been a dark time for the Visual Arts sector as it bade farewell to two powerful elements that created an insurmountable compound, which, by all means shall continue to thrive by their memory.
All I can say is, “Sisi Helen” and Sekuru “Mandebvu” shall forever be missed by the gross amount of artists, administrators and discerning art lovers.”
Raphael Chikukwa is the National Gallery of Zimbabwe executive director
Online Reporter