Zimst Art Gallery hosted art lovers with works from Africa's Shona art movement. The works of Zimbabwean artists are made of high-energy stones and carry symbolic meanings. At the opening of the gallery, Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Turkey Mutiwazuka emphasized the importance of this art being recognized internationally.
Examples of Shona art, considered one of Africa's important contemporary art movements, met art lovers at Zimst Art Gallery.
The gallery features works by master artists Colleen Madamombe, Lovemore Bonjisi, Richard Rosani and Dominic Benhura, recognized by the National Museum of Zimbabwe.
Shona stone sculptures are high-energy and symbolic works created by carving a single piece of semi-precious stones such as Opal, Springstone and Red Jasper.
Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Turkey Alfred Mutiwazuka and former Turkish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Hakan Kıvanç, as well as many artists and art lovers, attended the gallery's official opening event.
Speaking at the opening, Ambassador Mutiwazuka said that having his country's art represented in a gallery was not only proof of Zimbabwe's friendship with Türkiye, but also an indication that Shona art was spreading worldwide.
Mutiwazuka emphasized that depictions in Shona art have increasingly included the struggle for liberation against British colonialism over the years, saying:
"Our country changed its name from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe, which means house made of stone. In Zimbabwe, people living around the Matoppos and Victoria Falls express their origins through wood carvings. These sculptures reflect spiritual beliefs, ancestral references and connections to the natural world. This art form has become an important export that supports our local businesses and communities in Zimbabwe. These works are exhibited in prestigious museums, galleries and private collections around the world."
"They believe they release the spirits of their ancestors"
Speaking to AA, gallery curator Nilüfer Eriş said that Shona art has existed in Zimbabwe for centuries but was only discovered in the 1950s.
Eriş drew attention to the fact that the works, which are all made of a single piece, are made of semi-precious and high-energy stones, and said, "After the artists remove the rock piece from where they find it, they keep it in their workshops for a while and establish a spiritual bond with the stone. Then they start carving by drawing on it with chalk. They do not use any modern tools during this carving. They only use simple hand tools. After they reveal the sculpture, they heat it with high heat and polish some of it with their own unique polish, and leave some of it in its natural state. They believe that they release the spirits of their ancestors by doing this." Eriş stated that they display the works of important representatives of this art in the world at Zimst Gallery, and that there is no such large gallery in Europe where works of this art are sold, and that they aim to establish a connection between the two cultures by opening the gallery.
Eriş expressed that they were pleased with the interest of Turkish art lovers in this art and said, "We have been busy preparing this place for about 4-5 months. Although we have just started promoting it, there is a great interest. I hope we will see these sculptures in many places. These works are in the most important museums of the world. Because these are sculptures made with real human power and love."
About the gallery;
Zimst Gallery aims to bring two cultures closer together and contribute to society, in addition to being an art gallery.
The gallery aims to support children in need in Africa in terms of nutrition and education with a portion of its income.
Source: https://www.haberler.com/guncel/shona-sanati-zimst-galerisi-nde-sanatseverlerle-bulusuyor-18557382-haberi/