‘Let us buy our art collections’ Mr Raphael Chikukwa

Trust Khosa

NATIONAL Art Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) executive director, Raphael Chikukwa, has challenged entrepreneurs to buy local art collections and boost the creative sector.

He said art education and appreciation were needed from the grassroots to change the mindset.

The revered curator spoke glowingly about trending local visual artists’ collections getting the highest bids from international art collectors in overseas galleries.

His call also came after the successful launch of Admire Kamudzengere’s second solo exhibition, “Our Father’s Inheritance Doesn’t Allow Us To Sleep,”   currently running at NGZ, Harare.

The debate to buy and appreciate art collections has been reignited at Kamudzengere’s ongoing exhibition.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Herald Arts on the appreciation of visual arts in Zimbabwe, Chikukwa noted that art education was lacking.

“Over the years, we have never asked ourselves why foreigners are buying our art more than us.

“The demand for our local art collections internationally is a signal of what Zimbabwe has to offer on the global market. However, we now need to have more of our local art buyers.

“Art does not lose its value, you can use art collections as collateral and repay loans,” he said.

“Art should be taught from preschool to tertiary level so that people can appreciate it. All teachers’ technical colleges should be at the forefront of teaching art.

“We can only change this mindset if we teach the young. On a positive note, we are also happy with the number of youngsters visiting us here (at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe) to watch exhibitions.”

Chikukwa challenged locals to learn from other countries and financial institutions that value art.

“There is a growing demand for art in Nigeria from Nigerian art, Indians are buying Indian art while the Chinese are also buying their own art.

“Art is a repository of knowledge as banks are now buying collections. In South Africa, financial institutions like Nedbank are buying art collections while FNB is running the FNB Art Fair annually.

“These are the questions that we need to ask ourselves why foreigners appreciate our art collections more than us.”

Chikukwa also gave reference to visual artists whose collections are showing at the 60th International Art Exhibition at Venice Biennial 2024 ending in November that the creative sector’s future is bright.

Dubbed the “World Cup of Visual Arts”, the exhibition, which has been running for months, attracts thousands of art collectors around the world.

At this global exhibition, the Zimbabwe Pavilion has also become popular with art collectors where the works of Kombo Chapfika, Moffat Takadiwa, Troy Makakaza, Victor Nyakauru, Gillian Rosselli, and Sekai Machache’s works are being exhibited.

At the main pavilion, the works of Doreen Sibanda, Josiah Manzi, Kudzanai Chiurai, Shalom Kufakwatenzi and Taylor Nkomo’s artworks are also showing.

In his assessment of Zimbabwean artists’ impact at the 60th National Art Exhibition at Venice Biennial 2024, Chikukwa was proud of the great strides they are making on the global platform.

“To date, over 40000 art collectors have visited the Zimbabwe Pavilion exhibition, a sign that our Zimbabwean art is unique.

“We have also noted that we can also utilise art for the re-engagement agenda. We are yet to establish the number of art collectors thronging the main pavilion.

“We will only get the correct figures in November when the curtain comes down,” he said.

Over the years, Zimbabwe has churned out visual artists whose art collections have caught the attention of the world.

Some of these visual artists include Gareth Nyandoro, Masimba Hwati, Virginia Chihota, Dana Whabira, Kresiah Mukwazhi and Ronald Muchatuta.

The aforementioned creatives have been playing critical roles in image-building and international cooperation.

 

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