Miombo magic – a view forever at Miombo Lodge and Spa…

In association with Bepa Gallery… an art exhibition…. Lomedy’s Fish face on the cover of the invite-

run by Jo and Josefina, Bepa Gallery is showing five Zimbabwean artists in the high roofed well lit spaces at Miombo Mountain Lodge and Spa. …

Erhuardt Muchemwa’s sculpture seems to expansively invite us to enjoy the space, embrace the art….

An easy drive from Harare, Miombo Lodge is nestled in Msasas and Flame Trees is the Christenbank Conservation Area,

Such a special space for African Plant Hunter Gus Le Breton and his creative wife Ananda who transforms nespresso pods into exquisite jewellery… seen here on Kelli Barker in LA earlier this year…

Thinking red- that t shirt of Kelli’s!!!….Always this flamboyant colour moves my soul to delight – and reflects in my painting -here’s a close up detail ..

nature in the form of flamboyants and deep green Msasas embraces us – a flamboyant flower close up is a frilly dream – dear exotics that have naturalized in Zimbabwe… like any other immigrants works wide they all have a place in the ecosystem- #allthingsconnected

as we arrive on Friday 8th November to the opening of the art exhibition bepa gallery… I am reminded of the joy I had creating my large paintings –

Embracing the glorious tree canopy, well lit exhibition rooms are tucked like glowing jewels…

And within that superb space, Lomedy Mhako’s prints reflect the essence, the connections of everyday life and culture ….

Untitled – on the cover of the catalogue, Lomedy and I discussed- my favourite print of his, we discussed and I suggested a title of moyo wangu – the Victorian type hairstyle/headpiece could be a soft brown heart- the Victorian style ruff not quite the stiff reality of a ruff rather a soft framing of the enigmatic dark face scribbled over by mesmerizing blue lines …..

Lies told by artists series – these are such a clever use of a seductive  basic androgynous body template telling stories in the elemental changes wrought by a simple difference in position of line work  – a body bending with the wind, flexible for better of for worse – bending to survive and adapt, or twisting to mask real emotions, real intent?!

Looking back from the spa towards the main living area of the lodge from the inviting pool….

And within the main living area and dining room more art gems are displayed… Richard Witikani “We differ but we are one” multi portraits -one central portrait, simple and unadorned, anchors the various other masked, paintiedand ornamented faces- some  in traditional type cultural marks but others crossing into a superhero type mask  – Kelli the make up artist is entranced by this artwork….

Richard is a firm multi media art star in the Zimbabwean art horizon 

Percy Manyonga  – stitching his stories together with thread and found fabrics 

up close detail – Percy weaves stories in every stitch

and Percy’s portraits tell their own layered tales, whimsical, often humorous sometimes dark – all the elements of human nature- here’s my favourite – what is that dog thinking?….

Joanne Powell and Josefina in front of Tinotenda Chivinge’s Swallow Series

Tinotenda Chivinge Swallow Series- such witty found objects work- I admired  the instinctive connections between trash object to create personas

Oh!!! Eat your heart out El Anatsui !!! …At the entrance to the living area of Miombo Lodge, Zibusiso Tshumai from Bulawayo displays a shimmering sheet of treasured delight- here is the full piece against a red brick wall …

…Zibusiso collects tin cans and alchemist see them with heat and compression to a form of treasure – trash treasure 

dinner

Trash Treasure backdrop as artists and guests chat … at dinner time