The National Gallery in Bulawayo wishes to advise the visual arts community and members of the public that we will be re-opening on the 30th of November 2020 following an 8 months long COVID-19 induced hiatus. Since 30 March 2020, the Gallery has been closed as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19. While the coronavirus continues to linger in our community, we have instituted a range of measures to protect our staff, artists and all valued stakeholders.
While closed to the public, the Gallery migrated to digital platforms to continue fulfilling its mandate of holding exhibitions of works of art and also encouraging interest in art. Of note is that we produced a virtual tour of two exhibitions that were running at the time the Gallery shutdown. Our regular Bulawayo Conversations were also conducted online.
We also dedicated the last eight months to conduct renovations. As we re-open, we are delighted to present an extensively revamped space. We now operate on a solar power system and have installed a disability ramp. The interior and exterior of the Gallery has been repainted, with new roofing and ceiling sheets mounted in sections of the Gallery. Our prime exhibition spaces have new floors and lighting system. In our quest to support the performing arts, we have erected a stage in the car park area. We express gratitude to the Embassies of Australia and Switzerland as they are the ones who made all the work possible.
As we re-open, the Gallery will present three exhibitions.
Initially meant to open in April 2020, Dreams and Realities is a group exhibition that interrogates the contemporary meanings of Zimbabwe’s independence. The mostly young artists in the exhibition give divergent interpretations of what 40 years of independence means to them. The exhibition will open on 30 November 2020.
The second exhibition, Retrospective Revelations, will also open on 30 November and showcases artworks from the Gallery’s permanent collection. These are a range of works whose original meaning still finds resonance in contemporary society. The exhibition reflects on modern society through historical lenses.
The third exhibition to be launched is PowerPlay, a group exhibition featuring artists working within digital media, moving image and technology. Co-commissioned by London-based arebyte Gallery and the National Gallery in Bulawayo, PowerPlay foregrounds the digital art scene in Africa and presents work by digital artists who are from or based in Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom. The works address isolation and alienation; societal bias around gender and race; transformation of being; the politics of borders and migration; dark markets of trade; and communities who work outside of the mainstream economy. PowerPlay will be launched on 3 December 2020.
The three exhibitions will run until year-end and into the first quarter of 2021.
We look forward to welcoming you back to our space.
For more details contact the NGB on +263292270721 or email sabona@mweb.co.zw