40 years before and after 1980
30 November 2020 – 19 February 2021
09 am – 5pm Anglo American Gallery
Dreams and Realities is commemorating Zimbabwe’s attainment of 40 years of independence and looks back 40 years before independence through this exhibition by resident artists. Having attained black majority rule on the 18th of April 1980, Zimbabwe in 2020 celebrates 40 years of self-determination.
Through the work of resident artists namely; Omega Masuku, Dumisani Ndlovu, Miranda Mathe, Ishmael Singo, Talent Kapadza, Nonhlanhla Mathe, Stanley Sibanda, George Masarira and George Mahenga the exhibition examines the dreams and realities of Zimbabwean people in a visual perspective of Zimbabwe’s 40th anniversary. The exhibition aims to be seen as a contemporary guide for creative memory from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. Attention is being given to often under-acknowledged events and activities as part of efforts to visualise the memory of emancipation and other elements that bring out the evolving meanings of sovereignty.
Artists are exploring various personal collective journeys, motivations, trials and tribulations of people and groups that played significant roles in the struggle for freedom. Zimbabwe’s 40th anniversary comes at a time when the status quo has begun to understand the role that art can play in society and in the re-engagement agenda. This exhibition presents largely millennials’ perspectives of liberation struggle and contributes to the ongoing thrust to preserve and promote national liberation heritage. Dreams and Realities interrogates the evolution from pre-independence Rhodesian aspirations to the post-independence quest for reconciliation. In this, the 5th edition of the Zimbabwe Annual Independence Exhibition, the National Gallery is focusing on the views, narratives by the people of Matebeleland 40 years before and 40 years after 1980. The highlight of the exhibition are ZAPU objects loaned from Brighton Museum in the United Kingdom.
RATIONALE The arts have contributed immensely to the visibility of Zimbabwe internationally and as a country there is need to realize the soft power that the art brings to the image of the country. Art brings people together to harness the impact and role and celebrate its achievements. Dreams and Realities provides us with a great opportunity to revisit our struggles for independence and the post-colonial traumas as we look into the future that will define us as a relatively young nation. It is also an opportunity for the born frees/ millennials to add to this narrative from their own perspective
For more details please contact the curatorial team on +263(2922)70721 or email: sabona@mweb.co.zw
