BY SHARON SIBINDI
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) in Bulawayo recently held an exhibition dubbed Uhambo Luka Dialo (Dialo’s Journey) aimed at celebrating local visual artist Dialo Dube’s journey in the arts world.
Dube (38) is the resident and visual artist at the gallery and curated by Fisani Nkomo.
Uhambo Luka Dialo is a collection of Dube’s works from nine years ago and his body of work comprises portraits, nudes, wildlife, woven lines, spirit of lines, chessboard, shacks, moonlight, landscapes, cityscapes and puzzle.
Standard Style visited the exhibition where Dube displayed his works, which ranged from the steps leading to landing along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street, into the corridors, then part of the small galleries, heading to the landing along Leopold Takawira Avenue and into the big gallery, the Marshal Baron.
“My exhibition was well-received and it was more of something new in the town that has never been celebrated, much a large exhibition with 100 pieces by one artist after nine years working,” Dube said.
“I did get a few commissions, that is from the opening, and I am happy with that and hoping enough promises of sales because the work was quite much in numbers.
“It really puzzled the clients. They wanted to first digest and then take pictures and they went back home. I am looking forward to them coming back to support me through the purchasing part of it.
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“It was well-attended, a full house and the first preview was attended by the business community and it was well appreciated and the second was full house and it was for everyone.”
In one of the exhibitions, Dube talks about Isidleke SikaThekwane — a bird which he linked it to the economy of the country.
“Isidleke SikaThekwane exhibition is derived from a very inspired bird. At the end of the day it will pick up all the scraps, all whatever colourful jewel on the ground in the form of nature or anything else and crowd it in her nest,” he said.
“Even if it’s of less use, but for the sake of it to be around the bird, I start to see our economy and our country itself and its leaders being the bird. This is how the country is functioning.”
Having spent two years at Mzilikazi Arts and Craft Centre, Dube said his exhibition had a huge contrast from the three previous exhibitions which he has done.
“From the exhibitions I have been doing before and the exhibition I just opened now, I see a huge difference with my covering everything like the celebrated pictures that come from some of the series I have been exhibiting before.
“This is a giant exhibition and it really speaks about it all.
“This is the fourth exhibition, I had two in Namibia and two in Bulawayo,” he said.
He said enough programmes have been planned after the exhibition and they have the Walk About slated for next Saturday.
“We are still to have other workshops and we will talk about them with schools when they open concentrating on mainly the classes that do art with their teachers,” he said ahead of the commencement of the third term last week.
