During the opening of the exhibition, most of the paintings drew viewers in close as if they were communicating a wholly new yet accessible painting language. Paintings in the show were rich in content and shied away from being merely accidents of the creative process.
For example, Keith Zenda’s piece titled Protest was a large scale, realistic depiction of a riotous scene with police in riot gear and a truck surrounding a group of people scurrying everywhere. The work embodied a sense of context; an order of application and an intense attention to detail.
In an interview, Zenda said that the exhibition was a significant opportunity for young artists to showcase their talent to art lovers. He said that he aspired to be different in his work through creating works that are unique which capture everyday emotions and landscapes.
“The idea is not to limit the imagination, you need to experiment with ideas, that’s how I think you can get local people to appreciate art,” he said.Helen Lieros, an art teacher and promoter at the Gallery Delta, said that young artists are to be congratulated for their untiring efforts to produce good and meaningful works in times of great economic and personal hardship.
“Nothing seems to deter them: their lack of paints and other art materials, and even bus fare. Indeed, some walked through the night carrying their works on their backs,” she said.
Lieros added for the past thirty years, Gallery Delta has opened its doors to young artists.
“It is phenomenal what power comes from the variety, individuality and creativity in the works on display. Above all, young artists are recycling a lot of objects, and improvising a lot, thus lending a creative edge to the exhibition,” she said.
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In an interview, Gina Maxim, one of the only three female painters participating in the exhibition, said that female artists were still in the shadows.“Female artists have a lot to say but I do not know what is happening. They must find a breakthrough,” she said.
On her work titled, The First Method of Separation, which shows a winnowing basket covered with a doormat and decorative materials, Maxim said she was inspired to do the work as a way to embrace her femininity and culture.
“I wanted to say something and I’ve found a way of saying it through my art,” she said.
