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Tichaona Martin Gwatidzo

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Arts Reporter
Twenty-year-old, Peter Birch School of Art student Tichaona Martin Gwatidzo said his experiences in life inspired him to be an artist. The artist said Government should make art a compulsory subject in order to give pupils in all schools exposure to the creative world.

He urged youths to take art seriously as it sustains livelihoods.

In an interview, Gwatidzo said art is a subject that opens and sharpens the mind of people.

“Art is life and this has inspired me. My best friend is the pencil. I can say the societal settings play a major role in my life because I draw what I see everyday and with art it is a matter of brain because, sometimes it is about what you see and what you don’t see.

“I believe if we have more art schools, we can also curb the issue of drug abuse because those academically challenged youths will have something to do and learn about,” he said.

Gwatidzo said it is about passion.

“Many people think that playing around with a pencil, rubber or paint brush is easy but it takes great courage and passion.

“Some people regard art as a subject for failures who don’t have anything to do. I started doing art at a tender age of three years and was lucky to pursue it during my days at Prince Edward High School,” he said.

He described his genre as graphic designing and fine art.

“I am a designer and painter in simpler terms. I can take about an hour or more drawing a piece depending on the subject that I am focusing on. Remember a picture can tell a thousand words. Sometimes I use the pencil or brush to tell a story, emotions or what is happening,” he said.

The painter said he did Mural Art at high school and wishes to practise it given the platform.

He cited lack of support and exposure as major challenges in his line of work.

“Like I mentioned before the subject is not fully recognised and appreciated and this has to stop. Corporate world should come on board and support us. It is just like any other profession – like doctors, lawyers, journalists and bankers.

“We lack exposure compared to other countries that regard and treat their artistes highly. In Zimbabwe it is either about music or soccer,” he said.

Gwatidzo said his role model is his former tutor Nathan Pambura.

He participated in the 2013 Agricultural Show Art competition and won major prizes.