by artweb
September 2019 marked the end of an era in Zimbabwe's history with the death of its former president, Robert Mugabe. As we reflect on five years since his passing, his name remains etched into the very fabric of Zimbabwe's identity - whether admired or despised. Mugabe, a Pan-Africanist and a liberator who led Zimbabwe out of colonial rule in 1980, is also celebrated for advancing education in the country, making it one of the most literate nations in Africa during his reign. Yet, his legacy is not without controversy, and this duality extends deeply into Zimbabwe’s cultural and artistic landscape.
Mugabe’s relationship with the arts was complex and multifaceted. He was qouted by the Herald newspaper in 2016 saying .... "....artists are naturally gifted people - absolutely gifted people......we must certainly must open our hearts and show that we appreciate the art. Their work has gone deep in our hearts, in our minds and it has stimulated a kind of wonder, a kind of love, a kind of apprecaition and satisfaction." He regularly officiated at events such as the Mobil Heritage Annual Art Exhibition at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in the 90s, lending his authority and presence to the nation’s creative sector. Notably, Mugabe's governemnt played a role in repatriating the other half of the famed Zimbabwe Bird, a national treasure and symbol of the country's heritage, from Germany. This act solidified his place in preserving Zimbabwean art and culture.
However, while Mugabe supported the arts institutionally, artists themselves often found inspiration in his political trajectory, responding critically to the sociopolitical conditions of their time. Many Zimbabwean contemporary artists have used their craft to explore, critique, and celebrate the paradoxes of Mugabe's leadership.
Contemporary artists have during his reign, commented on the sociopolitical state of the country, often using Mugabe himself as a subject or symbol. In 2015, Kombo Chapfika exhibited a bold series of Mugabe portraits at Njelele Art Station. His Bob vs. Warhol series, rendered in a pop art style, positioned Mugabe as both a figure of coolness and contradiction. Drawing parallels between Mugabe and the iconic American artist Andy Warhol, Chapfika’s work toyed with the image of Mugabe as a popular yet divisive figure.
A multi-disciplinary artist working across various mediums - photography, drawings, film, painting, and sculpture - Kudzanai Chiurai produced a provocative series of prints depicting Mugabe. Chiurai's work often critiques post-colonial African leadership, and Mugabe served as a recurring subject in his exploration of power, violence, and legacy.
Richard Mudariki’s iconic painting The Passover, created in 2011, stands as one of the more recongised painting that critiques Mugabe's leadership. The painting was a centerpiece of the Zeitz MoCAA exhibition Five Bhob: Painting at the End of an Era in Cape Town in 2018. It portrays Mugabe alongside global political leaders in a satirical banquet akin to Da Vinci's Last Super.
Perhaps the most controversial of the artists who addressed Mugabe’s regime was Owen Maseko. His critique was so sharp that it landed him in prison. Maseko’s work, which focused on the Gukurahundi atrocities of the 1980s, was seen as a direct challenge to Mugabe’s narrative of national unity. His imprisonment highlighted the limits of artistic freedom under Mugabe’s rule.
On a more institutional note, internationally acclaimed sculptor Dominic Benhura was commissioned in 2016 to create a sculpture of Mugabe, which now stands at State House in Harare. Benhura’s work, which is usually celebrated for its expressiveness and emotional depth, here immortalizes Mugabe in stone, serving as a lasting reminder of his complex legacy.
The intersection between contemporary art and politics in Zimbabwe is a testament to the power of creative expression in shaping and reflecting national consciousness. Throughout his reign, Robert Mugabe was an unavoidable subject for artists who sought to engage with the realities of their country’s evolving identity. From pop art portraits to deeply political works of protest, artists have used their platforms to either critique or commemorate the man who once held the reins of their nation.
As we mark five years since Mugabe's death, his influence on Zimbabwean art remains evident. Whether he is remembered as a liberator, a tyrant, or both, Mugabe’s name will always be affixed to the cultural and historical narrative of Zimbabwe.
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