Murmures

When one walks into galleries around the country, it’s become the norm that most people you meet there, appreciating art work from local artists are from any other race and just a handful of black Zimbabweans, if any.

In fact, the very few blacks you find there are journalists, visual art students, the security personal, the curator and maybe the guide for the tour.

What baffles me is why the black majority never bothers to go and just at least visit and not necessarily buy the art works, why?

After observing this for a long time, Zimbo Jam decided to find out from some of the major players in the visual arts and crafts sector, why this is the case.

Our first port of call on our journey to unravelling this mystery, was with award-winning sculptor, Dominic Benhura who said, “Art is psychological and to be able to love it one has to understand it fully. Earlier on in the 1980's back in school we were taught how to fully appreciate art which however is no longer the case now as schools do not teach it. It is now only taught in some private schools hence the majority of black Zimbabweans do not understand and appreciate it.”

Metal sculptor, James Suraji chipped in and said, “Local people do not appreciate our work and as a result we do not have a market, people refuse to buy our products no matter how beautiful they are and we have come to accept that our market are the tourists who come to Zimbabwe for visits.”

Talking to the ordinary Zimbabwean man on the street most of them shared similar beliefs to the two sculptors.

Midlands State University student, Monalisa Phiri, said , “I do not understand art at all especially that one which will just be scribbled as if it was some kindergarten kid who was learning to write. It actually confuses me. Why is it even called art in the first place? You really wouldn't find me buying any of that.”

“I feel as a society we are just not there yet. We have a lot on our plates and taking time off to go and spend an afternoon in the gallery looking at paintings, sculptures or drawings I believe is asking for a bit too much, worse of parting with these hard earned dollars to purchase art nezvakaita economy yedu is just wasting money,” said Talent Saunyama.

Also commenting on the matter was First Floor gallery marketing director, Marcus Gora, who said“Lack of exposure for the Zimbabwean folks has resulted in them not appreciating art. I don't think there has been enough advocacy, not all Zimbabweans have access to these galleries so I think art should be taken to the people and they be taught. Hopefully, they will then appreciate it. The media also has not been very helpful in pushing art the way it should happen. It is not given as much coverage as music and sport are. However, in the near future if a lot of hammering is done there is room for improvement.”

National Gallery of Zimbabwe curator, Rapheal Chikukwa, also had something to say on the matter.

“Art has a lot to do with the background and mental state of an individual. As black Zimbabweans, we have the mentality that art is for the white people only and this is a misconception that has been there from generation to generation. Even in early childhood development, art education was taught in 'A' schools and that’s still the case now. So I feel we need to have the art curriculum changed so as to catch them young and train them good, hence we will be training our future art buyers,” said Chikukwa.

“Lack of knowledge and appreciation is what has resulted in people not wanting to come and view art at the gallery,” said Derrick Higgins from Gallery Delta, “it’s not that they cannot afford buying art because these folks can actually afford to buy gadgets and other materials that are more expensive than art, but it’s because they do not see any need to buy it.”

So there you have it folks, could all these be some of the reasons why the majority of black Zimbabweans do not visit galleries?