Past Exhibitions

                     Love Shouldn’t Hurt

The Love Shouldn’t Hurt Exhibition sought to rally men to create dialogue to help perpetrators of violence adopt positive conflict resolution and anger management skills. The campaign helped towards reducing perpetration of violence manifesting through physical and sexual abuse. The exhibition also framed an understanding of that there are always alternatives to using violence.

RAISE YOUR HAND TO LOVE NOT TO BEAT!

                          The Stars Are Bright

The exhibition took its tile from the artwork by Stanley Musa Nyahwa which originally toured England as part of the Cyrene exhibitions in the 1950s. Post the organisation of the exhibition, in late spring of 2020 and amidst the London pandemic, global changes preceded beyond anyone’s anticipation. The  exhibition was presented in a way that was accessible and encouraging viewers to let their imagination take inspiration from the
environment in which the artworks were made. The baseline remained that there hasn’t been a single story of African Art and the Cyrene paintings reinforced this view. There is more research to be conducted into this body of work and the hundreds of artists who produced it, many of whom have been lost to history. It was always intended that the artworks would continue on to tour Zimbabwe, making what we hope will be fitting reunion with their natural setting.

Curated by
Chiedza Mhondoro, Jessica Ihejetah and Georgia Ward                            

                             Vital Voices

Collaborative artistic women found solutions through work of art, by joining forces in different genres or mediums to fight gender-based violence, by relating in Animation, Graffiti/ mural, Video art, photography and Digital art.  These female artists have found the legal way of expressing themselves on behalf of their fellow women. Graphic art, is traditionally a category of fine arts, including any form of visual artistic expression (e.g., painting, drawing, photography, printmaking), usually produced on flat surfaces.

With gender-based violence on the concentration, GBV is the most pervasive yet least visible human rights violation in the world. It includes physical, sexual, mental or economic harm inflicted on a person.

The series of workshops equipped 20 female artists with skills on how to embrace the power of digital media in the creation, distribution, and sale of their art. Digital spaces are a liberated field for creatives because they are free and fair to use for everyone without gender-based bias or discrimination. Through these workshops, the female participants were empowered to reclaim their voices by telling their own stories through art and sharing them with the world using the unlimited power of the digital world. Being part of this workshop entitled women to solve and find solutions to such.

Curated by

Danisile Ncube

Co- Curated by Mhle Nzima                          

Zandile Masuku

               Magoritoto exhibition

The theme ”Magoritoto” is appropriated from the Shona vocabulary referring to ghosts (amathonga in isiNdebele), which are assumed to be entities seeking vengeance by tormenting the living.  

The artist, Ishmael Singo embraces the cultural notion of hovering spirits through abstract figurative paintings. Ishmael’s work carries a bold accent of abstract form, mixed media, texture and shape to this body of works, he mostly employs muted colours and dark tones to represents the uncaring nature of Magoritoto.

The Exhibition challenges the viewers to interrogate, retrospect and reflect about their own ‘Goritotos’ they have to deal with in their own lives.              The exhibition offers an opportunity to give the Goritotos’ a brave stare in a safe place

FISANI NKOMO

Dust and Dazzle exhibition

Translating the heat and the exotic beauty of the African wildlife to canvas became Spyratos’ passion and spiritual goal. Born in Kenya of Greek nationality, this prolific artist became known for her bold and individual style. Her paintings remain rich and textured with variegated copper leaf and pure gold, glitter and pure coloured silver, recreate the physicality of the wild that inspires her.

With forty-two solo shows behind her (Australia, USA, UK, Italy, China, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Australia and Switzerland), Alexandra continues to expand her creative world, exploring and evolving in her in her contemporary style.

   Peripheral Chronicles exhibition


Peripheral Chronicles mirrors self-worth and the artist chronicled his story a journey with albinism and all others like him hence visually expressed issues such as  ‘Kuzvambaradza’ (Thoroughly beaten), ‘Competition for success’, ‘Recycling’ and ‘Nziranhete’ (The narrow road). In the periphery of Africa albinism chronicles cycles, disturbances, confusion and freedom. The artist depicted himself as a victim or still haunted by the past experiences in his painting portrayed a journey that is not certain; corrupted by prejudice and discrimination.  There is always light at the end of the tunnel his hope is to stay and enjoy his freedom of being noticed, protected and recognised as a soul being regardless of colour or creed.

                 

                 Uhambo Exhibition

Uhambo:   a visual art exhibition, which brought to light matters about forced displacement of people, The artworks are from six young artists, who are students at Mzilikazi Art and Crafts Centre who have been on attachment at the National Gallery in Bulawayo since March 2021.

Displacement can be a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations. Not only is it a humanitarian concern, but it is also a developmental challenge.

Takunda Chitsuwa, Benevolent Moyo, Blessing Zimie, Prominence Ndhlovu, Sipho, and Velile Gwatirera created works of art that depict various forms of forced movement of people and their impact not only on the displaced but also on the host communities, bringing awareness to the world, about the suffering that people experience when they are forced to flee their homes.

The six young artists explore various themes through colour, texture, and ink. The exhibition advocates for change in the way human beings deal with displaced people under the unique characteristics of each situation. The pieces present the suffering and traumas which are permanently engraved in the hearts and minds of the affected.

Curated By Joseph Munyuki, National Gallery in Bulawayo 

                      Rococo

Zimbabwe (Dzimbabwe) refers to the house of stones around Zimbabwe, the country with numerous rock sites, paintings and a few engravings. They reflect the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of humankind, yet having great significance to the futuristic descendants and contemporary societies.

There are locals particularly based on the hills and the consequently, the Matopos represents original nature inseparable from human culture.  A humorous congruence of flora and fauna has founded the origination of naturalistic cultural assets and treasures. A relation between the natural world and the social world has then been evidenced by similarities amoung rock at depictions across Southern Africa.