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Africa Moyo in VENICE, Italy
Zimbabwe’s participation in the 60th Venice Biennale has been a resounding success and a launchpad for the unearthing of more internationally recognised artists, Zimbabwe Pavilion Commissioner Raphael Chikukwa, said on Thursday.
He said it has been “the most powerful and successful Biennale”, especially for Zimbabwe and the rest of artists in the Global South who previously felt left out but had a huge presence this year.
Curator of the 60th Venice Biennale, Adriano Pedrosa from Brazil, included a huge number of artists from Africa and others who are not considered white, commonly referred to as people of colour. “Very unknown artists are in this exhibition.
“We know very well that the Venice Biennale has been dominated by Western countries, Western artists, but floodgates for artists of colour have finally been opened by Adriano Pedrosa,” said Chikukwa.
“Not only that, the visit to Venice Biennale by the Vice President of Zimbabwe (Kembo Mohadi), inspires a lot to us as curators, as cultural workers.
“It is something that has not happened before and Zimbabwe’s participation at Venice Biennale has been very powerful, with the Presidium endorsing the Zimbabwe Pavilion and Zimbabwean artists exhibiting both in Giardini and Arsenale.
“I would like to really appreciate the VP and his team.” Chikukwa, who is also National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe executive director, said the special garden in Arsenale set aside only for Taylor Nkomo’s five artworks, was testament to the potential that Zimbabwean artists have if more support is provided going forward.
“Nkomo is originally from Kezi, Matobo District, and Matabeleland South province.
“I am over the moon; the curiosity by the VP as we were touring artworks from South America and in the Zimbabwe Pavilion, showed he was very much aware and curious, he was trying to understand.
“He (VP Mohadi) said there is a need for Zimbabwe to start its own Biennale so that tourists know about what is happening in Zimbabwean arts,” said Chikukwa.
The Venice Biennale, commonly known as “the Olympics of the art world”, opened on April 20 and closes on November 24.
It is showcasing 333 artists under the theme, “Stranieri ovunque”, Italian for “Foreigners everywhere”. Zimbabwe’s pavilion is showcasing the works of six Zimbabweans; Gillian Rosselli, Troy Makaza, Sekai Macheche, Moffat Takadiwa, Victor Nyakauru and Komborerai Chapfika.
The other five Zimbabwean artists’ works are being exhibited in other venues.
Participating in the Biennale is part of efforts to foster cultural diplomacy, which Zimbabwe is advancing, together with economic diplomacy, to re-engage those nations that had severed ties with Harare at the turn of the millennium.
Online Reporter