Painting at the end of an era

An exhibition is slated to take place at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) under the title “Five Bhobh: Painting at the End of an Era”. Twenty-nine Zimbabwean artists will participate in this landmark exhibition. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) was involved in the conception of the exhibition from a consultative perspective.

The executive director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Doreen Sibanda (DS) and the Zeitz MOCAA (ZM) shared their thoughts on this ground-breaking exhibition.

NGZ: “Five Bhobh” takes place this September at the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town South Africa, what is the National Gallery of Zimbabwe’s involvement in this exhibition?
DS: The National Gallery of Zimbabwe was invited by the Zeitz MOCAA to be involved in the show by being part of the advisory committee for the show. We provided a venue for them to invite the would-be participants to pitch their work earlier in the year. We were invited to contribute to the catalogue and made available on loan some works from our Permanent Collection.

NGZ: What does this exhibition mean for Zimbabwe and what does the exhibition’s context entail?
DS: This exhibition is positive for Zimbabwe as the new museum is a major investment in Africa and has garnered a strong standing in line of artist representation, iconic architecture and presentation. We feel honoured to have been selected for a country focused show especially in light of us being one of the younger states of Africa.

This, for artists to be given such prestigious requisition speaks boldly about our capacity, creativity and gravity as a nation. The context entails a presentation of works that focus on painting in Zimbabwe. Some early works are presented for purposes of historical context, the main body of work centres on contemporary work done by living artists and practising artists.

NGZ: How will this exhibition contribute to the development of Zimbabwean art?
DS: The exhibition contributes by affirming the painting practice currently being taught and created in the country.

NGZ: The exhibition will be appearing in a temporary exhibition gallery, will the works not be included in that Museum’s Collection?
ZM: The works have not been purchased by the museum, but rather loaned for the duration for the exhibition, as is the norm with museums globally. The temporary exhibition galleries are intended to have a flow of exhibitions and works that are change regularly, allowing Zeitz MOCAA to constantly bring new and interesting contemporary art to the public. This fits into the mission and vision of the museum, which includes advancing, promoting and preserving arts and culture from Africa and its Diaspora, and to be seen as giving back to Africa and telling the African history through art and culture.

NGZ: 29 artists are appearing in this exhibition; what selection criteria was used to land on these particular artists?
ZM: The name of the exhibition — “Five Bhobh — Painting at the End of an Era” — talks to the theme around which the artists were selected. The curator looked to select painters who are making important work, using socio-economic commentary and/ or pushing the boundaries of painting.

 

The Zeitz MOCAA curatorial team worked with advisory committee which consisted of five experts who have worked within the Zimbabwean art scene for several decades.

Painters Janet Siringwani Nyabeze (JNS) and Troy Makaza (TM), who are also participating in “Five Bhobh: Painting at the End of an Era” also had insights on the exhibition.

NGZ: As an educator, what context have you summoned to create work for this exhibition?
JNS: The context I have summoned is on women’s struggles based on the foundation of my experiences of gender violence and one’s will to overcome the situations. In general I attempt to explore the effect of abuse.

NGZ: This exhibition focuses on painting as a medium, why, in your own opinion, do you think painting is still the vogue in Zimbabwe as opposed to other African countries?
JNS: Painting is still the vogue of Zimbabwean art as opposed to other African countries: I find that artists in Zimbabwe are using painting as a way of communication in trying to reach out for something personal or some experiences that are taking place.

Artists are expressing their frustrations over many issues by creating conversations or dialogue through paintings.

NGZ: You are one of the youngest artists in this show, what do you feel you will benefit from this exhibition?
TM: For me it is all about what I can contribute. I do not care about my name as much as I care about my ideas because they are the only things I am responsible for, that for me is an opportunity to influence some more.

“Five Bhobh: Painting at the End of an Era” is curated by Tandazani Dhlakama and opened at the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town on September 11, 2018 and will run until the March 31, 2019.