Visual artists in the country have bemoaned lack of appreciation of their artwork from locals, saying their products were more popular with foreigners.
By Abigail Matsikidze
A survey carried out by The Standard Style showed that most Zimbabweans were more into performing arts than visual arts.
Brighton Tendai, an artist at Chitungwiza Arts Centre, said; “People from abroad understand and mostly go for abstract art as compared to local people.”
His sentiments were echoed by Chitungwiza Arts Centre vice chairman, Artwell Chipiri, who said acknowledgment of their work was coming from outsiders.
“Our work is recognised in foreign land and we have received invitations to exhibit our creations from abroad and hardly any locally,” said Chipiri, who has won awards at internationally-acclaimed exhibitions such as the Millennium for Foundation Awards and William Santason Mayor Awards.
Even the Harare International Festival for Arts proved that as foreigners constituted a large chunk of people who attended the annual arts fête.
Artists at Newlands Art Centre said although they were operating in an area that was not a tourist resort, their products were being bought by foreigners.
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“Local people only come here to see our products, but people from abroad buy the items. These are people who really understand our work,” said an artist at the centre who makes products from scrap metal.
Another artist at Chitungwiza Arts Centre, Shelton Mubayi said his creations were a symbol of recognising the environment and appreciating African women.
“In my creations, I appreciate designers but mostly women. They carry all fruits of the spirit that were mentioned in the Bible in Galatians 5:22. They have many responsibilities in their life time,” he said.
Arts play a pivotal role in portraying the African society; it does not only record history but appreciate the importance of society.
