Zimbabwe to set up own global arts exhibition

Africa Moyo in Venice, Italy
ZIMBABWE is considering setting up a global art exhibition modelled around the giant Venice Biennale, to expose more gifted visual artists to global buyers and attract foreign currency into the country, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said.

In an interview yesterday after a tour of the Zimbabwe Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, VP Mohadi said he had been impressed by Zimbabwean arts exhibitions and wishes to create a bigger platform for them to shine.

He then challenged the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture led by Dr Kirsty Coventry to come up with an international arts exhibition that will attract visual art works from across the world.

“What I would want to say to you is that I have seen two worlds; the one that we had this (yesterday) morning is an exhibition that depicts the Global North and the Global South and how they are intertwined in terms of migration and all the like,” he said.

“And here, where I am, it is a Zimbabwean Pavilion where we are showcasing our visual arts. Little did I know that our people have got such talents and that they can exhibit internationally.

“What I was saying to the (Deputy) Minister (of Sport, Emily Jesaya) is that we need to have the same (global arts expo) back home, where people who come from other countries can see what Zimbabwe is showcasing, because we can’t just showcase it here.

“Our people also need to see what they (artists) are doing so they can get other people to emulate what is being done.”

VP Mohadi also said after his tour and seeing the quality of visual arts on display, he wants Government to ensure that art is taken as a business, not just as a passion, so that many people are pulled out of poverty into prosperity.

“The country can actually benefit a lot from this. What has surprised me is that some of the waste matter, the non-degradables, have been put to use here.

“Things like plastics, items made out of plastics, out of aluminium, which is all non-degradable, it’s here and it’s bringing out wonderful pieces, pieces of world-class standards and we appreciate that.

“We appreciate what Zimbabwe is doing. We need to take it higher than that. Maybe next time, the Minister (Dr Coventry) and her team will definitely be in a position to have an exhibition of this kind back home.

“So, we have come and we have seen what other people are doing and we can replicate this one back home. I am very much impressed,” said VP Mohadi.

Deputy Minister Jesaya praised Government for its continued support for the arts sector and pledged to take up VP Mohadi’s plea of setting up Zimbabwe’s global arts exhibition.

For the past 129 years since establishment, the Venice Biennale has been one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world.

At the 2022 exhibition, over 800 000 visitors attended, underlining its influence in the global arts sector.

Ms Laura Portoles Monerris, who is manning the Zimbabwe Pavillion, said about 500 people visit the pavilion daily, with the least recorded since April being 200 visitors.

Ms Monerris added that most visitors are always blown away by the Zimbabwean arts exhibitions.

Zimbabwe is showcasing the works of Gillian Rosselli, Troy Makaza, Sekai Macheche, Moffat Takadiwa, Victor Nyakauru and Komborerai Chapfika.

One of Makaza’s works is titled Mwana Washe Muranda Kumwe while Macheche’s is called Svikiro: Present Existence.

Nyakauru’s works, made from leather, reeds, gourd, rivets, steel and hessian, is called Maponde Anoyera while Rosselli’s work is called Yesterday Aligns Tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, VP Mohadi had toured some exhibitions by international artists in the company of Deputy Minister Jesaya, Chargé d’Affaires at Zimbabwe’s Embassy in Italy Caroline Matipira, acting Permanent Secretary in his office Mr Milton Ndou, Venice Biennale president’s representative Mr Joern Brandmeyer,

Chief of Staff in the VP’s Office Dr Clever Chirume and Zimbabwe Pavilion Commissioner, Mr Raphael Chikukwa.

The tour guide was Mr Zgjim Zyba from Kosovo.

The 60th Venice Biennale is running under the theme, “Foreigners everywhere”, which suggests that the world continues to become a village and global citizens are now everywhere.

Today, VP Mohadi is expected to tour more arts exhibitions.