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Stephen Garan’anga Visual Art
The overwhelming response by young artists to an invitation to submit artworks for selection for an exhibition is phenomenal.
They grab the scarce opportunities to be exposed to the outer world and the market especially in the current economic situation.
Their work too parades stretches of creative imagination. After all they are the custodians of the country’s art legacy and it should be secure in their hands.
They seem to have the nerve and conviction to uphold the international success and excellence that the country’s modern art has been riding on since the early 60s.
Their enthusiasm was crystal clear in a multi media annual group exhibition dedicated to the young and upcoming fine art practitioners that was held at Gallery Delta Foundation for Art and the Humanities.
Dubbed “Artists in the Stream V” (formerly “Young Artists’ Exhibition”), the open call for submission of artworks for selection for the show was oversubscribed and had hundreds of art pieces. More than 100 artists submitted their works but were eventually streamlined to 33.
For a house gallery a limited number of 75 pieces in the categories of painting, drawings and graphics and sculptures and multi-media were afforded the platform.
There were more graphics submitted in this edition than before, which is perhaps indicative of the state of the economy and the high cost of art materials.
The recently concluded Wild Geese Art Festival too had numerous young artists who were ecstatic about the event that had an art competition and exhibition that came against an uninspiring environment with very little movements in the local art scene.
As the festival was announced a couple of months earlier the young emerging voices were on cloud nine as this was an opportunity for them to express and record in their own favourable media, their thoughts, imagination or fantasies, impressions and emotions, involving such age old and sought after desire of man to find inspiration and freedom, either spiritually or in reality.
They were cognisant of the previous year’s edition that had painting demonstrations and awards for best exhibit and best artworks by a young artist.
The 2014 event was no exception for them as it offered a free platform to showcase their work, converse directly with the buyers and the handling of their sales.
Some amazing quick small painting demonstrations too took place and some sold as soon as they finished.
There were more art sales in this year’s edition than its two predecessors and a considerable number of the young practitioners were beneficiaries.
They also took part in the art competition which had a theme: “Remind Me of Zimbabwe” that had a wide room for interpretation. The upcoming creative minds had a feast on content regarding the social, economic, political situation and other circumstances prevailing in the country.
Their art pieces were predominantly three-dimensional mixed media influenced by found objects.
They have become young tenacious mixed media specialists who seem to be on a critical lookout timelessly when they are on their errands.
They are highly alert of materials that scatter all over the cities. Their pieces mostly were wired, tied with fish-line, silk, thread, nailed and sometimes glued on aged highly rusted and rotting metal objects and discarded timber.
Strips of split electrical cables and discarded fragments of technology too assisted in their constructions.
The young artists’ enthusiasm is in need of a complimentary environment that will inspire their ability and desire to transform their visual perception into material form.
They offer a gritty face to issues that are bursting out to be heard, be they social, political, aesthetic or economic.
They are streetwise witnesses to our time and ask us to introspect and face realities affecting us.
Their work will be used as a point of reference in the future to tell Zimbabwe’s story through the artists’ eyes.
For years art has played an integral part in creating harmony and encouraging reflections on social identity.
Online Reporter