Murmures

Artists from the First Floor Gallery have left the country to attend this year’s edition of the Cape Town Art Fair that will be held from Wednesday to March 1 in South Africa.

Moffat Takadiwa, Wycliffe Mundopa and Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude are part of the team that will showcase their works at the prestigious Art Fair while Terrence Musekiwa and Richard Butler Bowdon will be represented by their works.

The art fair will have over 40 galleries from Africa and Europe with Zimbabwe’s First Floor Gallery being among the galleries that will represent some of the finest African contemporary artists.

Gallery marketing director Marcus Gora said they were elated to be selected as Zimbabwe’s representatives.

“We are happy to have been selected to participate at the art fair and it gives a chance for the young artists that we work with to be introduced to the South African and international art market,” he said.

Gora said the youthful artists will have the chance to exchange notes with their peers across the world.

“This is one of the biggest events that gives an opportunity to these young artistes to develop and grow by being exposed to other galleries and fellow artists,” he said.

He said they were confident that the artistes will raise the country flag high with their works.

“These guys are creative and we are optimistic that they will shine and put our arts industry in the lime light,” he said.

Pieces to be exhibited included an image called a Joypad by Takadiwa.Takadiwa, who is among the team said the artwork is made from recycled deodorant spray can tops.

“It is encouraging to be part of such a big event and we are hopeful that our works will speak a lot about visual arts in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s First Floor Gallery will be among other galleries like A Palazzo (Brescia, Italy), Art First (London, UK), Art Review (South Africa), Art South Africa (South Africa), Art Times (South Africa), ARTCO Gallery ( Aachen, Germany), ARTLabAfrica (Nairobi, Kenya), Artthrob (South Africa), AVA (Cape Town, South Africa), Biksady Gallery (Budapest, Hungary), Omenka Gallery ( Lagos, Nigeria) and Thames and Hudson (London, UK) among others.