Read on- a wonderful article and great memories of Helen Lieros- here is “Sacrificial Goat, mixed media, by Helen – a formidable yet truly accessible artist- a legend indeed- by Tandazani Dhlakama…
The late Helen Lieros occupied herself with advancing art-making beyond the confines of stone sculpture, shaping the appreciation and reception of art in Zimbabwean society through Gallery Delta and Gallery magazine. Tandazani Dhlakama recalls her indelible imprint whilst revisiting her formidable life and art.
— Read on post.moma.org/helen-lieros-a-practice-underpinned-by-persistence-and-perseverance/
When I first viewed this powerful last work of Helen’s, I was very deeply moved, as months before we had discussed how The Nike of Samothrace, the Greek winged goddess of victory, had entranced me years ago when I learnt about her at art college, and years later started sketching and translating her into some of my artworks… which were to go on exhibition at the “Freedom Exhibition” at Gallery Delta
Partly in thanks to my mentorship by dear, fierce Helen, I now truly feel like I, with age on me and a lifetime of drawing behind me, am ‘emerging’- building on my past experience but creating deeper and hopefully more compelling storytelling in my art.
Hopefully I can embrace more self/realization, more experimentation and more bold discovery in my older years, a form of “taking flight”, a winged victory….
Helen Lieros mentored me during the months before the “Freedom” exhibition, so shortly before she died, a mentorship that I will always treasure and build on.
I have embraced Helen’s wise art advice – “…taking a step backwards to go forwards” … back to my roots of drawing drawing drawing; life-drawing and draughtsmanship, and then pushing that to larger canvases…
At present that includes my passion for goats, the culture and character of goats and the stories (ngano) and proverbs (Tsumo) worldwide and in Africa, that centre around goats.
My local fabric wrap (Chimatsatsa) is going to be a collage with an acrylic painted goat on canvas, which I am working on. Watch this space!
I’ll feature this wonderful glorious green-horned pattern-
Helen also was a goat lover- depicting them often in her work as sacrificial, beneficial or scapegoat… many representations and always powerful.
Such a universal language goats create- such as the well read and non-voting goat Muriel in Animal Farm by George Orwell…
I am excited!
Thank you for the inspiration, always, dear Helen.
Living on through what is now the Nhaka Gallery (Helen Matsvisi)
At the Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank, Jozi, I visit Madlozi Contemporary Art Gallery’s show, The Africa Salon,
..my Art Collector Passport unlocks the experience…(thank you Art Harare for the symbolic art passport!)
My Art Collector Passport unlocks the experience…as I am drawn in to bravely coloured walls, deep hued and mysterious, embracing glowing artworks – this is not another white cube -it’s a RED cube!!!
On the floor is an 18-piece installation by Snelihle Maphumulo titled ‘“Umnikelo” (The Serving/offering) investigating themes of service in Nguni cultures.
Photo credit from Visi Magazine article
This is an exhibition that is multi layered indeed- including Neo Theku’s powerful photo series… and a live performance by him addressing the knife edge situation and challenges facing so many young, often fatherless, men in our society ..
Neo Theku-Powerful imagery –
Contemporary Africa in our image .. as an art offering curated by Beathur Magoza Baker, this is a fitting follow on to The Africa Remix 2004 which showed 80 African artists to the world art market.
Artists lineup…
I loved meeting Beathur, who, in bringing together established and emerging artists, says: “I really enjoyed creating an experience for an exhibition and gallery audience that resonates with a diverse, contemporary Africa in the shades and colour, textures and resonant forms that connect with shared cultural symbols and themes.”
She entranced me with her narratives of the various artists – and I immersed myself in the soft earth colours used by Nandipha Jantjies- such a contract to all the other painters who were mostly bold and bright..
Nandipha Jantjies – seductive earth colours
This diverse art, this multi-layered “Africaness”, is expertly pulled together into a satisfying exhibition by Beathur, connecting artist and viewers with shared culture and themes.
Segun Aiyesan -detail from The Toil of Man-the use of acrylic and impasto texture pulls me in …and the enigmatic hieroglyphs/Asemic writing grabs me…
Segun Aiyesan, details from The Toil of Man
The glorious signature colours of David Chinyama …
David Chinyama, painting detail..
George Masarira delights me as always, brave and symbolic as he is..
Detail from Usi’ Patheleni-The Money Changers of Downtown Harare by George Masarira
Graphic faces, accusing, shifting, resigned and somehow sad eyes, painted money (or the lack of it!!), a piercing social commentary from George…
Madlozi Gallery created walkabout sessions with artists and I was luckily able to catch up with George beforehand to chat, in the delightful Freshly Ground coffee shop below the gallery -always cool, George –
George Masarira hiding his expressive eyes…
Backed up by an African Liberty on the wall behind him- a beauty !
Wall mural
George dropping his guard and dropping his shades for me! …beautiful eyes
Gentle knowing eyes, dear George…
My trusty DesignLife tote bag goes everywhere…
Design Life tote – proudly zimbabwean
Madlozi, Black and female-owned, is a refreshing and innovative gallery, creating art experiences beyond the ‘white cube’.
Featuring the further works of such as Silas Abrifor, Washington Kirika, Lisolomzi Pikoli, wide ranging from print to graffiti, mixed media to acrylics, all these mediums pull together to inspire me -thank you @madlozi_artgallery
And featured in a VISI magazine article on Madlozi Art and The Africa Salon…
That red wall!!!’
And George’s graphic art ..
Credit: Visi magazine photo
All photographs (unless stated otherwise) and opinions, are my own …!
I enter the Origins Centre -the museum at Wits University, with great anticipation – carrying my Art Harare Art passport as a tangible memory in the making…
art harare passport, stamped with my ochre thumbprint ..
An EXHIBITION is opening : “Hold me said the Earth” by Ann Gollifer, curated by Kim Karabo Makin.
‘Hold me said the Earth’ invites us to consider the ways in which our identities are shaped by history, geography, and personal experience. And a huge meshed map of Africa at the entrance to the museum encourages our sense of a geographical exploration – a journey –
passport to ART and history, culture, geography at the Origins Centre
Tammy Hodgskiss has created a pathway of discovery in this seductive earthy ‘Origins’ space – and even before I get to the exhibition rooms I am entranced by the displays…
stone tools in Fibonacci spirals…
A visual feast
Earth, Ochre and engraved ostrich shells …
shell receptacles for ochre and earth resonate with me ,
And here is Ann’s own snail shell paint holder- created from a giant African snail shell.
Ann’s shell receptacle
…using shells as I do myself for holding earth pigment, I feel the joy of kindred practices…
After musing over the snail shell, I fully enter the amazing elemental space that houses Ann’s ochre earth creations …
Stunning cakes of ochre squat on the concrete floor holding the promise of layered stories within –
At last after years of online chats I get to meet up with lovely Ann herself…
Ann Gollifer
and here is a beautiful team
portrait of Ann with the Guns & Rain Gallery team…
Guns & Rain team, Julie, Laura and Dimakatso, with Ann
Julie Taylor of Guns & Rain, drawn into the exquisitely fine details ..
Julie Taylor
Saturated pigments of deeply moving hue draw me in my turn into Ann’s work – handprints, map making, mark making, brushwork…
I record a photo of the ochre thumbprint in my artharare art passport – against Ann’s work- an indelible memory for me, thank you Ann!
Here outlined arms and hands on a folded “map” seem to morph into fantastic giraffes…telling their own story
hand or giraffe? ..
a tree hung with ochre scribed boards sways gently, while a visiting anthropologist views Ann’s art video in the background
Anthropology and art, installation and video…
Ann Gollifer’s work is a deeply personal history, centred on her use of pigments derived from earth colours found in Botswana,
Catalogued and carefully labeled earth colours lovingly documented
This is something more than just colour –
this is history, culture, identity…true storytelling..
“Her (Ann’s) art is a call to reflection, urging us to consider our own personal mythologies and how they intersect with the larger narratives of race, gender, and nationality” – Khumo Sebambo.
Reflecting this ongoing story of humankind, I meet charming Dr Tien, anthropologist from Cape Town, and a team of fascinating visiting anthropologists who are attending multiple workshops country wide …
Tien and a team of enthusiastic and fascinating anthropologists attends the opening…
a powerful and moving Exhibition curated by Kim Karabo Makin.
Ann is intent …
Entertaining and moving presentations ..
A Delightful trio ! Kim with Ann and Mma Motsei Nkwemabala
– thank you !
A few in the crowd including curator Kim Karabo Makin
shells ochre and synergies – I can not wait to next attend the workshop hosted by ANN and her fellow ochre collaborator MMA MOTSEI NKWEMABALA
A MATERIAL PRACTICE: A WORKSHOP ON PROCESS WITH ANN MARY GOLLIFER AND MMA MOTSEI NKWEMABALAAnn’s mark making
These coloured earths that I have collected in Mahenye with our community are characterful and gritty
textures telling stories..
Elemental earth, (kaolin related, I think), that I have collected at Kaya Nyala, creates Asemic writing, hieroglyphs on my pages …
In the Chauke Humba story, the fire embers were set on a bed of earth within the snail shell and covered with dung, to safely carry them for a distance-
Giant African snail shell and earth pigment collected at Kaya Nyala
#allthingsconnected – the shell was/is also a perfect receptacle – a palette, to hold earth pigment … #totems #traditions #culture #hlengwe #chaukeclan #mahenye #gazaland #art #chaukehumba #fire #cooking #giantlandsnail #oraltradition #storytelling #southeastzimbabwe #earthpigment #hearth #painting
Miombo magic – a view forever at Miombo Lodge and Spa…
Kelli absorbing that view forever…
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 browsing the catalogue
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 ..
detail from Flamboyant I, acrylic on loose canvas, 110 x 180 cm
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 –
Lin Barrie – Flamboyant I, acrylic on loose canvas, 110 x 180 cm
Embracing the glorious tree canopy, well lit exhibition rooms are tucked like glowing jewels…
Miombo mountain lodge and spa
And within that superb space, Lomedy Mhako’s prints reflect the essence, the connections of everyday life and culture ….
Lomedy Mhako
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 …..
Bepa art catalogue
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….
Reflections at Miombo Lodge
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….
Erhuardt Muchemwa in front of his wood sculpture and Richard Witikani’s work
Richard is a firm multi media art star in the Zimbabwean art horizon
Percy Manyonga – stitching his stories together with thread and found fabrics
Jo , Jose and friends in front of Percy’s work
up close detail – Percy weaves stories in every stitch
Percy Manyonga -detail – a stitch in time….
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?….
Percy Manyonga
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
Beginning years ago in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, an epic…. the story of a child, living on the streets, surviving by scavenging on the municipal dump, battered and bruised but rising against all odds, daring to dream …..
Kelli’s test make up, pre-shooting, on child actor Sikhanyisio Ngwenye
Director and writer, Jessica J. Rowlands vision for a film grew, centered on the child’s true story,
The vision grew on the railway tracks…
on location
The vision grew on the municipal dump….
Make up station on location- at the dump
The vision grew in the boxing ring…
Kelli tries boxing gloves for size…
Joe Njagu ably producing, this teamwork gave powerful life to the story in the tourism town of Victoria Falls …
A creative force
Joe and Kelli on location
Kelli began to perfect bruised and battered make up effects for the movie well before the filming …practicing on Biggie (who has helped her with other film projects over the last few years as well! )
Kelli had done extensive pre-test make ups on friend Biggie-
I have waited in anticipation for this 25 minute short film… – a culmination of last years hard work by the Rise crew in Victoria Falls.
and at last here we go -heading to Joina City movie house in harare for the premiere
driving in Fanwell’s “little limo”
driven by our dear friend, and ex gardener, Kelli’s ‘brother’ Fanwell who himself is a self-made success story – fighting the odds from humble beginnings to get his drivers licence and now owner is a small fleet of taxi cabs and a “little limo” – (no stretch limo needed for us) ….. braving the chaotic Harare traffic..
Kelli and Fanwell
Zimbabweans are known for punching above their weight….
Sikhanyisio Ngwenye and Kelli Barker at the after party – looking fierce… facing life!
Kelli’s poignant make up on Ska:
Sikhanisio Ngwenye (Ska) and Kelli Barker make up –
Close up:
Sikhanyisio Ngwenye (Ska) and Kelli Barker make up –
The fab flyer… RISE!
and this premier on screen at Ster Kinekor Joina City in Harare last week was an affirmation of creative teamwork, film family and perseverance against all odds…
Kelli Barker MUA,; Jessica Rowlands, Director,; Tobias, Boxer and Inspiration….
some lovely red carpet moments before the screening …
Joe Njagu in a magnificent Jaspizy jacketTongai Chirisa and KelliEddie Sandifolo – so cool in blueDear friend and fellow creative, Sebastien Lallemande and Kellired carpet buzz
Popcorn was dispensed and we eagerly went into the movie house …. Well done Jessica for persevering, true to the spirit of the film, as the audience and cast remained steadfast and patient in the face of some technical cinema glitches and a few false starts …!!!
Popcorn kept us entertained while technical movie house glitches were surmounted ….
Jessica prevailed. After a powerful and very moving 25 minutes of Rise, we emerged from the movie theatre energized and inspired by the strong vision and storytelling – eager to see this become a full length feature in the future, after doing the short film circuit and Sundance Film Festival… fingers crossed.
Happily heading off to Saints and Sinners for an after party..
Nakai Matema and Kelli (who’s the Saint, who’s the Sinner ?!?!)
paparazzi…
Signing Rise t shirts.. can’t wash that now…Chatting to friend, charismatic lead actor Tongai ChirisaExciting new ideas in the pipeline…always…Intense creative brainstorming with actress Sibongile Mlambo- gorgeous zimbabwe style…
Watch out for Rise! (Eat your heart out Rocky…)
And breaking news now in 2025 added:
For the NAMAS awards 2025, #ska is nominated in the line up!!So proud of Ska, our brilliant young Zimbabwean actor who is nominated for best actor at the National Arts Merit Awards for the film RISE
There are so many moods to a painting – and a floral painting is somehow always celebratory, light out of darkness, embracing hope and life; environment and nature…
“Iceberg Roses, Sweet Embrace” is an impressionist painting I created with simple joy – and glowing with Dulux colours Sweet Embrace and True Joy….
And now it has again migrated… and is hanging happily on a glorious green wall at Kelly’s Kuttings …
Sweet Embrace and Just Joy…. At Kelly’s Kuttings
Continuing my theme of True Joy and Sweet Embrace … an anniversary…Three years clean and sober by the Grace of God, is my child Kelli, on the very day that we head to Kelly’s Kuttings for a celebration breakfast …
cappuccino salute
Delicious food.. french toast
french toast
enjoyed by the forkful…..
A deserved treat after Kelli wanders the lovely flower gardens at Kelly’s Kuttings…
Eggs Benedict on Rosti for me ..
Eggs Benedict
Life journeys are alternately challenging, frustrating frightening uplifting, but always rewarding in the end…
Bury your face in a bunch of flowers, my special child.
May we always share gorgeous spaces embracing flowers, food and art, a feast for our eyes and our hearts…
Kelly’s Kuttings
May we always be stopping to smell the roses…cakes and roses…. Embracing delight in each and every day that comes our way…
I arrive in harare and head to deliver chosen paintings from myself and Kelli Barker for the miniatures exhibition due to open early 2025..
under the sea… a sneak taste from Kelli Barker… wait to view the full quartet and others in 2025!
Detail from Under the Sea by Kelli Barker
Sneak preview of part of my submissions:
one of a triptych -wait to view the whole artwork!!!
detail from “Of Earth and Water” triptych by Lin Barrie
one of a triptych – giant land snail with earth pigment
One of a triptych
Now, As I walk into the gallery, I am faced by a rolling video of a man, painting his face, then variously taking off, shaving off, the cream and a plastic wrap “facemask”… wow !
Admire Kamudzengerere
It’s Admire Kamudzengerere ! I am thrilled to find Admire’s extensive solo exhibtion, ably curated by Fadzai Muchemwa, still running.
Our fathers inheritance does not allow us to sleep…
This is welcome time out for me to stop and spend an hour browsing Admire’s powerful graphics, layers of textures and emotions…
Dzinza draws me – here is detail – goat and texture …
Detail from Dzinza
Tsoro is so reflective of the pastimes of childhood, into adulthood – the games people play… the owls ranked behind in ominous array -or spiritual support? Intriguing…. One of my favourites…
Tsoro
Mami Wata – this detail from the painting captivates me, lover of stories, ngano, as I am -especially the mermaid myth which swims through the cultures of the whole world in various guises…. Her she seem to possess a dugong or manatee tail
Detail from Mama Wati
Identity – a huge installation of painstaking placed papers scribing and portraits…monumental in breadth of scale, stretching metres along the wall…this is just part of it
detail from Identity
With many small parts making a whole…I feel
like this world of Admire’s is a bigger picture made up of thousands of tiny miniatures – microcosms of human experience forming a greater whole, #allthingsconnected
Different Mood is a larger series of powerful passport like portraits…. Here’s one of them ..
Different Moods – one of the series
Changing Faces is a huge installation – covering a full gallery wall with tiny stickers, Post Its….
Changing faces … a detail from the huge wall installation
Changing faces -tiny works up close… (these should be on the miniatures exhibitions upcoming as well, I think …. Post it! Stick it!!…..
Post it! Stick it!!…..
Post it Stick it series- Admire is also currently showing at a group exhibition at Fondation Blachere, in France…Kuvhunura
Isheunopa Chokuwamba
A group exhibition called … Kuvhunura , with 25 other wonderful zimbabwean arts, curated by Georgina Maxim of Village Unhu and Valerie Kabov of First Floor Gallery
As I wander happily through the national gallery halls, I come into the south gallery- and a group of 12 young printmaking students from Animal Farm Artists and Dzimbanhete Arts and associates, show a well presented, very potent collection in the well-lit the south gallery …
Dzimbanhete arts and culture
this is their first foray into dry point etching – wow WOW !!!!
here are just a few of the many prints that caught my eye….
student prints pack power!!!
I get to view Admire’s and the students works in splendid semi- solitude- until a glorious group of primary school children arrive – it is heartwarming to see the eager faces and excitement as they are ushered into the gallery by their teacher and confronted with the powerful art on the walls …
eager young minds, hearts and art .. #allthingsconnected
Going through to the yummy Afrotopia Cafe, I meet up with proprietor Steph – wonderfully ebullient as ever, and O’Neal Tanaka Maisiri and his collaborators who tell me about their forthcoming collaboration…. I Wish You Could See Me
I wish you could see me
This exhibition is looming soon and they are putting in the leg work, not just the creative work !!!… visiting galleries and public spaces to tell people about their art happening end of November at the Greatermans Building/ZICCA
together with O’Neal in the vibrant Afrotopia Cafe – good food for good people !
Just the ticket… get one!!
I love meeting O’Neal’s collaborators- vibrant enthusiastic young men, supporting each other in their art journey-
O Neal and friends… #allthingsconnected #partoftheweb
So true to my mantra #allthingsconnected – we are all part of the web!!!
In the gallery shop I happily catch up with Raphael Chikukwa and here he is resplendent in his delightful Zimbabwe bird jacket. The shop has a great array of zimbabwe bird stone sculptures… so of course here is my photo of dear Raphael with a heart of stone …a stone Zimbabwe bird heart!!!
Raphael with a heart of stone !!! …a Zimbabwe bird heart…!!!!
that shop is seductive, with lots to look at these days…. Books, beads, craftwork, recycled art …. I can not resist the recycled tab-top purse that catches my eye
and I meet delightful Evelyn who is on a marketing attachment from the University of Technology Chinoyi – we connect over my purchase of handmade bead jewellery, and that cute purse !…
Evelyn invites me to an interview for “women’s crush Wednesday” ! Happy always to talk art, so we sit in from of Admire’s inspiring works and chat on camera as her fellow attache Opah takes the video.
As I leave the gallery, energized by what turned into a fun and multi/layered visit, this monumental bird sculpture in the gardens yet again catches my eye- (I have always loved looking at it, with its huddled composition reflecting the warmth and solidarity of family) … and now it means so much more, as I see in it reflected the eager young faces and togetherness of all those school children huddled together in front of Admire’s work….some looking in front, some looking behind…
South African artist Olivie Keck intertwines art with activism by donating proceeds from her art sales to wildlife conservation. Her digital works, vibrant and whimsical, explore the fragile relationship between humans and nature. Proceeds from her artwork, such as those dedicated to Wildlife Asia, directly support endangered “big cat” conservation.
Olivie Keck “Tiger Tiger burning bright…”
Keck’s collaboration with conservation organisations makes her art an excellent opportunity for eco-conscious collectors to make a tangible environmental impact. #bigcats
“Zimbabwean artist Lin Barrie brings attention to conservation efforts for the African Wild Dog, also known as the Painted Hunting Dog, an endangered species and the second most endangered carnivore species in Africa after the Ethiopian Wolf
Lin Barrie, Wild dog!!! Available at Painted Wolf Wines
. @paintedwolfwines features her art of African Wild Dogs on the labels of some of their wines, and the wine producer supports several beneficiaries in conservation”
Art for impact is growing, releasing the ability of collectors to #makeadifference at the same time as acquiring inspiring art for their walls and their legacies
a formidable yet truly accessible artist- a legend indeed- by Tandazani Dhlakama…
wine and wild dogs 
The Africa Salon; my Art Collector Passport unlocks the experience…
At the Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank, Jozi, I visit Madlozi Contemporary Art Gallery’s show, The Africa Salon,
My Art Collector Passport unlocks the experience…as I am drawn in to bravely coloured walls, deep hued and mysterious, embracing glowing artworks – this is not another white cube -it’s a RED cube!!!
On the floor is an 18-piece installation by Snelihle Maphumulo titled ‘“Umnikelo” (The Serving/offering) investigating themes of service in Nguni cultures.
This is an exhibition that is multi layered indeed- including Neo Theku’s powerful photo series… and a live performance by him addressing the knife edge situation and challenges facing so many young, often fatherless, men in our society ..
Contemporary Africa in our image .. as an art offering curated by Beathur Magoza Baker, this is a fitting follow on to The Africa Remix 2004 which showed 80 African artists to the world art market.
I loved meeting Beathur, who, in bringing together established and emerging artists, says: “I really enjoyed creating an experience for an exhibition and gallery audience that resonates with a diverse, contemporary Africa in the shades and colour, textures and resonant forms that connect with shared cultural symbols and themes.”
She entranced me with her narratives of the various artists – and I immersed myself in the soft earth colours used by Nandipha Jantjies- such a contract to all the other painters who were mostly bold and bright..
This diverse art, this multi-layered “Africaness”, is expertly pulled together into a satisfying exhibition by Beathur, connecting artist and viewers with shared culture and themes.
Segun Aiyesan -detail from The Toil of Man-the use of acrylic and impasto texture pulls me in …and the enigmatic hieroglyphs/Asemic writing grabs me…
The glorious signature colours of David Chinyama …
George Masarira delights me as always, brave and symbolic as he is..
Graphic faces, accusing, shifting, resigned and somehow sad eyes, painted money (or the lack of it!!), a piercing social commentary from George…
Madlozi Gallery created walkabout sessions with artists and I was luckily able to catch up with George beforehand to chat, in the delightful Freshly Ground coffee shop below the gallery -always cool, George –
Backed up by an African Liberty on the wall behind him- a beauty !
George dropping his guard and dropping his shades for me! …beautiful eyes
My trusty DesignLife tote bag goes everywhere…
Madlozi, Black and female-owned, is a refreshing and innovative gallery, creating art experiences beyond the ‘white cube’.
Featuring the further works of such as Silas Abrifor, Washington Kirika, Lisolomzi Pikoli, wide ranging from print to graffiti, mixed media to acrylics, all these mediums pull together to inspire me -thank you @madlozi_artgallery
And featured in a VISI magazine article on Madlozi Art and The Africa Salon…
That red wall!!!’
And George’s graphic art ..
All photographs (unless stated otherwise) and opinions, are my own …!