View of the exhibition, © Francesca Cristellotti, 2013.
Pavilion of Zimbabwe
55th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
Portia Zvavahera, Michele Mathison, Rashid Jogee, Voti Thebe, Virginia Chihota
Dudziro
Commissioner: Doreen Sibanda
Curator: Raphael Chikukwa
Venue:
Santa Maria della Pietà
Castello 3701, Venice Italy
Zimbabwe is once again returning to Venice, Italy for the 55th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia in June this year. As the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, we are tasked and made responsible for Zimbabwe’s representation of Zimbabwean Contemporary Art both locally and internationally by the Ministry of Education, Sport, Art and Culture. This year the curatorial theme identified for the exhibition is entitled DUDZIRO: Interrogating the visions of religious beliefs and the Curator’s research into the impact of Religion on the society. His theme relates to the bigger Venice Biennale 2013 theme “The Encyclopedic Palace” developed by the Curator, Mr Massimiliano Gioni. He said, “The Encyclopedic Palace is an imaginary museum that was meant to house all worldly knowledge, bridging together the greatest discoveries of the human race from the wheel to the satellite.” The theme speaks to an idea of imagination that the artists help the people to interrogate.
The Zimbabwe Pavilion Commissioner, Mrs Sibanda and the Curator, Mr Raphael Chikukwa believe that the return of the religious phenomena in Zimbabwe is so unique that its exploration brings an interesting contribution to the bigger exhibition. As such 5 artists were identified from amongst current crop of artists practice as their work speaks eloquently to this concept.
The aim of the Zimbabwe Pavilion is to showcase to the world the vastness and vibrancy of the visual art scene Zimbabweans are involved in as well as taking the opportunity to expose our country men and women who may not otherwise have the opportunity, to the international art market.
The Venice Biennale is the pinnacle of the visual art world and as a National Institution it is important that we select a diverse team that is representative of a nation, while at the same time inspires art practise within the country and the continent as a whole. Some of the things we looked for:
Artistic merit of body of work;
Strong conceptual skills with innovative and effective approaches demonstrated in other creative projects;
Ability to design artwork that is sensitive to social, environmental, historical, and/or other relevant contexts related to the curatorial theme;
Ability to translate artistic concepts into materials that are appropriate for public space;
Potential for work to enrich and diversify the National Gallery of Zimbabwe Permanent Collection;
Ability and willingness to collaborate with the Chief Curator in understanding the particular Curatorial theme of the Biennale;
Appropriateness of qualifications for the project; and,
Effective communication and organizational skills.
As a result the selection process has led the team to select five diverse artists who represent the dynamic nature of Zimbabwe and more importantly demonstrate the vibrancy of the visual art scene from a Zimbabwean perspective within Zimbabwe as well as the rest of Africa. The artists selected for the 2013 Zimbabwe Pavilion in Venice are Voti Thebe, Rashid Jogee, Virginia Chihota, Portia Zvavahera and Michele Mathison.
The two veteran artists; Rashid Jogee, an Indian Zimbabwean and Voti Thebe, from Matebeleland, will be complemented by the two young female artists Virginia Chihota and Portia Zvavahera and a young Zimbabwean sculpture Michele Mathison, currently working in South Africa.
Each of these artists brings with them a diverse interpretation of the curatorial theme given by the curator for the Pavilion, Mr Raphael Chikukwa – DUDZIRO: Interrogating the visions of religious beliefs. “DUDZIRO looks to seek and examine the metamorphosis of religious beliefs in our society and the impact this process has had on a society whose strength is founded on strong ancestral roots[1].” The participating artist from this theme, have made work taking an introspective journey within their own lives and what they know and understand of religion and translate it visually for the world to see and appreciate.
The journey has been long and tough but we have made through the aid of our government as well as various partners that have come on board offering assistance in different ways. The next few months will be left for rounding up and making sure everything that needs to be done is done before the opening of the Pavilion. To those that have assisted us, we thank you. And to those that would like to contribute or be a part of this extraordinary opportunity there is still plenty of time to do so.
[1] Extract from the Curatorial Statement by Raphael Chikukwa
The Zimbabwe Pavilion at the 55thInternational Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia
The nation of Zimbabwe is returning to Venice once again after its first debut at the 54th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia in 2011. In 2011, four artists were sent to Venice to represent Zimbabwe at the Zimbabwe Pavilion; Calvin Dondo, Tapfuma Gutsa, Berry Bickle and Misheck Masamvu.
This opportunity to represent the country opened up many doors for not only the participating artists but the nation as a whole. Over the past two years Zimbabwe has been the hub for curatorial growth, with curators from all over the country coming to visit the country something they admitted they wouldn’t have done prior to the biennale. Curators like Simon Njami, Bisi Silva from Nigeria, Thembinkosi Goniwe from South Africa and many more. The first of its kind, a Curatorial Forum was recently held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Funded by the British Council it provided an opportunity to grow and teach upcoming African curators. The Forum explored some of the contemporary curatorial issues centred on collecting, curating, conserving, displaying and interpreting art in Africa. Some of the visiting curators include Gabi Ngcobo (South Africa), Jimmy Ogonga (Kenya) Suzana Sousa (Angola) and Tessa Jackson (Invia, UK).
There is a lot of importance in having a national pavilion. Before African countries were represented as a whole in a pavilion specifically for the continent; this however is no longer the case – each country has the opportunity to represent its culture and art by hosting a pavilion. This year the representatives are South Africa and Zimbabwe while others are still to confirm. We are grateful that we have had this opportunity to be able to go back for the second time; to be able to take our artists to Venice and showcase what Zimbabwe has to offer. We are hoping to get more visitors that come through our pavilion and get even more glowing comments from the ones we received in 2011. We are confident these will translate in practical opportunities for the artists of this country to grow and for the sector to be strengthened. This in turn will lead to improved professional leadership on the continent.
The Zimbabwe Pavilion, 2013 is bringing to the people DUDZIRO: Interrogating the visions of religious beliefs an exhibition curated by Mr Raphael Chikukwa derived from the bigger Venice Biennale 2013 theme “The Encyclopedic Palace” developed by the Curator, Mr Massimiliano Gioni. Massimiliano said, “The Encyclopedic Palace is an imaginary museum that was meant to house all worldly knowledge, bridging together the greatest discoveries of the human race from the wheel to the satellite.”
We are grateful to the Government of Zimbabwe for its continued financial support that forms the major anchor to our attendance. We also acknowledge the support from Portnet, Goethe Institut, Goethe Zentrum – Zimbabwe German Society, Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust, the Embassy of Switzerland and the European Union.
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