Lovemore Kambudzi: One of the Finest Artist from Zimbabwe Since Independence

Zimbabwe Thu 24-11-2011

Lovemore Kambudzi: One of the Finest Artist from Zimbabwe Since Independence
Stephen Garan'anga | AfricanColours.com

Lovemore Kambudzi, an honourary graduate of Zimbabwe's famous BAT Studios of Fine of Art of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in the 1990's has emerged to be one of the most successful painters since independence in 1980.

The reserved soft spoken artist who rarely appears at public gatherings has never been hesitant to speak out his mind through his work even on issues that are sometimes considered to be extremely sensitive by mighty forces.

Lovemore's successful satirical way of panting on massive canvases, intricacies of each and every subject with the usage of unforgiving timid brush strokes and the controlled use of colour strongly makes his work an instant hit in most parts of the world it has been exposed to.

_Untitled

His work has been used on book jackets both nationally and internationally, published in magazines around the world from New Zealand to the Czech Republic, from South Africa to Germany. After bagging the Commonwealth Foundation Art Award in 2003, a handful of other prestigious awards including a couple sponsored by the European Union mission in Zimbabwe followed suit.

In a recent one to one interview at his house I inquired about his recent work. "What motivates you, how and where do you start on such a huge extremely detailed piece?

Mrs. Kambudzi sitting next to her husband was quick to reveal the experience, "when it gets serious you would feel for him, he starts with many sketches but they are always changing, they quickly disappear as he start to apply paint, he does not stop even to eat, he will consume very little food sometimes with his hands soaked with oil paints or turps(turpentine), even clothes he would not change, it will take months of intense concentration and being oblivious of other things" she narrated.

_{The artist Lovemore Kambudzi}

The man in-question then explained: "my paintings, in different ways, reflect the concerns of human rights and social justice. This is interpreted broadly in some of the works that have positive and joyful images. But then there are the depressing ones, some of which appear political but I really have been painting what I have been through and what I see in Zimbabwe everyday. All my adult life I have been observing the life of the people in my home town of Mbare and the country as a whole. People are struggling and severely suffering.All the problems have made the situation almost unbearable for ordinary people, forcing them to turn to corrupt activities and crime. My paintings are through the eye of the people: I can not hide the truth."

What's your take on current art situation in Zimbabwe? I posed the question. He shook his head and said; "I'm deeply saddened by the massive looting of the country's best artworks by some unscrupulous buyers who are taking unfair advantages of the artists' desperate economic situations, dictating grocery prices for their artworks.

No one seem to be doing much about it. There haven't been significant purchases by the National Galleries of Zimbabwe for permanent collection in recent years and the best work of this era is not being reserved or well documented. The work is disappearing, enriching the looters who are shipping it overseas, reselling it for more than a thousand percent profit. Some are illegally reproducing the work depriving artists of potential revenue. The issues are endless and it's disheartening."

Kambudzi has been buying or swooping some important artworks with various artists but to terminate the unfair practices the country needs assistance from the government which currently does not have a functional cultural policy document and has never prioritised a budget for the sector as revealed by former bureaucrats who are cultural practitioners and once made commendable efforts to develop the sector. It's Kambudzi's sincere wish to see the country's artists' welfare improving and making contributions to the development of sector.

At Lovemore's home studio I noticed some larger than life size wooden sculptures. He confirmed he has been inspired by the work he has been creating over the years and the drive to express himself through three dimensional media has been compelling. Undisputedly the three dimensional work has inherited much from his two dimensional. Very soon the artistic audiences will be exposed to a new treat from the established humble man.

_{Last Warning}

Recently Kambudzi's piece titled 'Last Warning' from Czech's Marie Imbrova's collection was pledged to Art for Africa™ Auction, a unique auction that presented the work of cutting-edge African artists alongside some of the major names in American Contemporary art at Sotheby’s New York on November 17, 2011. This second Art for Africa™ Auction followed the successful inaugural one held in London in September, 2009. The proceeds from the New York sale will benefit Africa Foundation’s work in support of orphaned and vulnerable children living in some of the poorest rural communities in South and Eastern Africa.

©Stephen Garan'anga.

Posted By: Andrew Njoroge

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