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A painting by Anthony Bumhira set to be exhibited at the Cape Town Art Fair next month

This year’s edition of the Cape Town Art Fair features an exhibition entitled Taibva facilitated by the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design with the support of Pro Helvetia. Taibva serves as the National Gallery of Zimbabwe School of VISUAL Art and Design’s first outing to a regional art fair, as such, this provides a platform for the exposure of talent of currents and recent gone graduates of the school to international audiences.

The roster includes the likes of Anthony Bumhira, Admire Kamudzengerere, Franklin Dzingai and Option Nyahunzvi. Taibva features this eclectic assortment of artists who bear different approaches to their technique.

The majority works predominantly in mixed media, the overall body of work expresses the most popular techniques practiced in Zimbabwe and the themes which are found underlying the content are found to be the most descriptive of the status quo.

Taibva, which directly translates to ripeness, aims to express the artistic flavour that currently seeps through contemporary art. As such, the body of work is highly emotive and intriguing as the themes and content presented are a means for the viewer to inwardly confer. Taibva is somewhat of a double entendre as it also details a transitory progression. “We were coming from” is the second meaning derived from this title and judging by the experiential work that is exhibited therein the show, a journey motif through the work is evidently present to the well trained eye.

Bumhira’s work, for instance, dwells upon the interconnectivity between all people; living and deceased. The dualistic nature of joy across the realms is explored through Bumhira’s work, wherein a mode of purgatorial appeasement between deeds and actions are accrued through eternal bliss. The works are highly insightful of concepts in Chivanhu and present how customary concepts and philosophies have been adopted by individuals from the millennial generation.

Since Goya’s Guernica, art has always been deeply rooted in observation and commentary, the Zimbabwean contemporary scene arguably breathes experiential record through painting, sculpture and print.

The world around the artist is highly influential upon the output and view that is conveyed through the artist’s work.

Franklin Dzingai, who has cut out a niche somewhat as a pop Art revivalist, has utilised card print to perfection.

He dwells mainly on the vast array of texture that is derived from the technique, the result being a highly balanced experience that appeals the viewer through rich colour and familiar subject matter; the form usually being contextualised to the most diverse of themes.

“ I concentrate on essentials so that I can evaluate a concept and its alternative solutions,” said Dzingai. “In my work I am interested in exploring all the issues that impact my life, from the social concerns of everyday living in Zimbabwe to the lives of my family, my personal experiences, memories and interactions.” From February 18-21 2016, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe School of Visual Art and Design will be showcasing Taibva at the Cape Town Art Fair in South Africa. The exhibition is made possible with support from Pro Helvetia Southern Africa.