The National Gallery in Bulawayo is pleased to present the second edition of the Pink Perspectives exhibition; this year’s theme is REACH & IMPACT PINK. The exhibition is a collection of contemporary works by Bulawayo artist’s Thembelihle Adams, Linda Msebele, Sithabisiwe Khanye, Stanley Matengwa, Collings Chitaka, and images from Matabeleland Photographers Association and students from Townsend High School and Magwegwe as we join hands with the Zimbabwean community in celebrating the Breast Cancer awareness month. According to the National Cancer Prevention and Control Strategy 2013-17 of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, in Zimbabwe, cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality with over 5000 new diagnoses and over 1500 deaths per year. The number of people developing cancer is expected to increase due to HIV & AIDS, other infections and unhealthy lifestyle choices. One of the underlying challenges resulting in high cancer rates is the lack of knowledge by women and girls on early cancer screening and preventative measures.
IMG: Veronica Matebeleland Photographic Association
In the fight against cancer women and girls are generally victims and as care givers, very often have limited information about the disease. Therefore, the Pink Perspectives project will give participants the correct information, the ability to make proactive informed choices and decisions regarding their health. The exhibition seeks to encourage discourse on cancer within the creative sector which, to some extent eradicates the misconceptions attached to it. The National Gallery considers that in this way, Pink Perspectives will trigger awareness in each and every one of us. We are showing the visual perspective and engaging the society to zero in on breast and cervical cancer on how contemporary African society views breast cancer. As you go through the exhibition we hope oration on Breast and Cervical cancer will interchange We believe that the first step to conquering stigma is to talk about it, openly and publicly and what better forum than the artistic one. As you appreciate this exhibition let us not lose sight of the seriousness of breast and cervical cancer and its adverse impact on the creative society and realize that change of societal perspective begins with the individual.