RADAR: MASTERPIECES
SHOW AND TELL
Art lover Josefina Pierucci selects her favourite paintings in Zimbabwe right now
CHANA CHAKO
By Grace Nyahangare
As the parent of a young child, Nyahangare uses her art as catharsis. “Chana Chako” means “your brat” in Shona, and this work represents the conversation a mother has with herself while she is dealing with her child’s tantrum. It reflects the feeling that parents have about how society looks at them when their child is misbehaving.
SWALLOW SERIES
By Tinotenda Chivinge
“I take objects considered trash and shape them into objects of beauty,” says Chivinge, “and I hope to provoke thoughtful introspection around the many perspectives that exist in our society.” In his “Swallow Series”, the artist was inspired by the symbolic significance that birds have in Zimbabwean culture, where people believe that birds are messengers from the ancestors and possess the ability to forecast the weather.
SKELETONS IN THE CUPBOARD
By Gillian Rosselli
“The Cupboard” is from a series of paintings about domestic violence, a subject that was brought close to home after Rosselli’s friend died as a result of such abuse. Using fleshy tones to evoke delicate, raw skin, Rosselli explores the way the privacy of a family unit can hide domestic violence from public view. Domestic violence is a language of terror that is only spoken by those involved, and Rosselli’s turbulent, sweeping textures reflect the ebb and flow of this conversation.
UMBRELLA MAN
By Percy Manyonga
“Umbrella Man” is inspired by a man from Manyonga’s birthplace who suffered from mental illness, and was known around town for always carrying an umbrella, whatever the weather. The man had a unique ability to identify issues, articulate their roots and sources, and was able to easily find solutions. In this painting, the umbrella symbolises protection and unity, demonstrating that art can go beyond mere representation of the world as it is.