Zim returns to Venice

This year the curatorial theme identified for the exhibition is “Dudziro: Interrogating the visions of religious beliefs and the curator’s research into the impact of religion on the society”.

His theme relates to the bigger Venice Biennale 2013 theme “The Encyclopedic Palace” developed by the curator, Massimiliano Gioni. He said: “The Encyclopedic Palace is an imaginary museum that was meant to house all worldly knowledge, bridging together the greatest discoveries of the human race from the wheel to the satellite.” The theme speaks to an idea of imagination that the artists help the people to interrogate.

The Zimbabwe Pavilion Commissioner, Mrs Doreen Sibanda and the curator, Mr Raphael Chikukwa, believe that the return of the religious phenomena in Zimbabwe is so unique that its exploration brings an interesting contribution to the bigger exhibition. As such five artists were identified from among the current crop of artists practice as their work speaks eloquently to this concept.

The aim of the Zimbabwe Pavilion is to showcase to the world the vastness and vibrancy of the visual art scene Zimbabweans are involved in as well as taking the opportunity to expose our country men and women who may not otherwise have the opportunity, to the international art market.

The Venice Biennale is the pinnacle of the visual art world and as a national institution it is important that we select a diverse team that is representative of a nation, while at the same time inspires art practice within the country and the continent as a whole. Some of the things we looked for:

• Artistic merit of body of work;

• Strong conceptual skills with innovative and effective approaches demonstrated in other creative projects;

• Ability to design artwork that is sensitive to social, environmental, historical, and/or other relevant contexts related to the curatorial theme;

• Ability to translate artistic concepts into materials that are appropriate for public space;

• Potential for work to enrich and diversify the National Gallery of Zimbabwe Permanent Collection;

• Ability and willingness to collaborate with the chief curator in understanding the particular curatorial theme of the Biennale;

• Appropriateness of qualifications for the project; and,

• Effective communication and organisational skills.

As a result the selection process has led the team to select five diverse artists who represent the dynamic nature of Zimbabwe and, more importantly, demonstrate the vibrancy of the visual art scene from a Zimbabwean perspective within Zimbabwe as well as the rest of Africa.

The artists selected for the 2013 Zimbabwe Pavilion in Venice are Voti Thebe, Rashid Jogee, Virginia Chihota, Portia Zvavahera and Michele Mathison.
The two veteran artists – Rashid Jogee, an Indian- Zimbabwean; and Voti Thebe, from Matabeleland – will be complemented by the two young female artists, Virginia Chihota and Portia Zvavahera, and a young Zimbabwean sculptuor, Michele Mathison, currently working in South Africa.

Each of these artists brings with them a diverse interpretation of the curatorial theme given by the curator for the pavilion, Raphael Chikukwa — “Dudziro: Interrogating the visions of religious beliefs”. “Dudziro looks to seek and examine the metamorphosis of religious beliefs in our society and the impact this process has had on a society whose strength is founded on strong ancestral roots.”

The participating artists from this theme have made work taking an introspective journey within their own lives and what they know and understand of religion and translate it visually for the world to see and appreciate.

The journey has been long and tough but we have made through the aid of our Government as well as various partners that have come on board offering assistance in different ways.

The next few months will be left for rounding up and making sure everything that needs to be done is done before the opening of the pavilion. To those that have assisted us, we thank you. And to those that would like to contribute or be a part of this extraordinary opportunity there is still plenty of time to do so.