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‘Chimwechete’ by Julius Mushambadope

Lovemore Meya Arts Correspondent
A powerful exhibition commemorating the life of the healer, soldier, poet and founding father of Angola, Agostino Neto at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe has shown great creativity among local artists.

In a unity of purpose as Africans, two of the country’s skilful artists joined forces in a “two-man exhibition” in tandem with the fallen hero of the continent. The exhibition was officially opened by Victor Bunga director of Studies, Research and Projects of the Doctor Antonio Agostinho Foundation.

The striking exhibition consists of Neto’s portraits in black and white chronicling his life history. It is complemented by exquisite artwork courtesy of Julius Mushambadope and Tawanda Takura. Their works simplify the struggles that many goes through to achieve happiness or victory.

The artworks, which are in different dimensions in oil and acrylic on canvas and assemblage of images from discarded old shoes, speak volumes about the artists’ expertise.

Mushambadope, who specialises on paints and printmaking mixing oil and water based paints, uses realism in his work.

One of his fun works titled “Matsotsi,” is a painting showing rats prying everywhere down the curtain in search of food.

He also uses human figures to narrate what happens in a life like in the case of “Mhemberero”, which translates to jubilations.

Mushambadope puts it across for one to see what happens when people are celebrating victory in our Shona culture with traditional drums beating while the merrymakers gyrate.

Some of his paintings comment on slavery in Angola and titles to his works include “Thorn Statements”, “Pfimbi Muninga”, “Kutsikwa naTateguru” “Chimwechete” and “Munzwa Weziso” among others.

On the other hand Takura comes in with a different art form that many might find interesting especially on how he forms human beings images using old shoes.

Being a sculptor in his own right, Takura gives old shoes a new lease of life like in his piece “Martyr” (A luta continua”) on mixed media comments on how one sacrifices his life for the benefit of many.

“Angola” is another artwork that resembles what the nationalities of that country went through for them to achieve their independence.

In mixed media, the art has a grinder blade, a machete lifted on what appears to be hands stuck together while “portrait of the late Agostinho Neto” is a fiery mask with eye openings on metal stand depicting the warrior he was.

Other titles to Takura’s works portray the struggle that most people went through like “Nhapwa”, “Soft Diplomacy”, “Monuments of de massacre de icole e Bengo”.

In short, it is an exhibition that is inspirational and worth watching for art enthusiasts.