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Raphael Chikukwa

Lovemore Meya Arts Correspondent
Five prominent African and European artists will showcase their mastery in art at the official opening of the Basket Case (II) exhibition slated to begin on October 30 at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. The show which is co-curated by Christine Eyene and Raphael Chikukwa will open to the public from October 31 until December 15. It will be running under the theme “A Collaborative Experience: Beautiful and Timeless.”

It seeks to bring together women from Community projects in Zimbabwe to work with artists of different orientations from countries in the European Union National Institutions for Culture (EUNIC) cluster to work with these grassroots organisations.

Artists to showcase include Ifeoma Anyaeji (Nigeria), Alexandra Bircken (German), Tapfuma Gutsa (Zimbabwe), Delaine Lebas (United Kingdom) and Michel Paysant (France).
Each of these individuals uses their background and tries a hand at weaving, albeit by instilling new ideas to the communities they worked with.
“The purpose of the show is to inspire, educate and promote collaboration between the local basket makers with other artists.

“It’s about sharing creativity and imagination through direct engagement with other artists and partners to open new avenues of marketing,” said Farai Tarwireyi of the British Council that is supporting the exhibition.

“Zimbabwe can become a hub of exquisite basket craftwork, creative exchange and social engagement through this kind of exchange and exhibition. In addition, it is my hope that artists and basket makers learnt from each other,” Raphael Chikukwa said.

Doreen Sibanda, director at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe said: “It serves as a prime example to demonstrate the use of cultural capital to stimulate development and improve livelihoods.

“By celebrating ancient basket weaving forms embedded in contemporary weaving art forms, mutual understanding and the fight against hunger and poverty.”
There will be an Open Market at National Gallery of Zimbabwe on October 31 and November 1 this year as part of efforts to empower basket weavers and enhance their livelihoods.

Skilled basket weavers from Binga, Bulawayo, Lupane, Honde Valley and Masvingo have participated in this exhibition, which aims to tell the compelling story of Zimbabwean basketry’s continued survival.

The EUNIC-Creative Zimbabwe programme contributes towards sustainable development of the creative industry in Zimbabwe by creating links to European and regional markets.