Letter to God

Zimbabwe Tue 01-11-2011

Letter to God
By Stephen Garan'anga | Africancolours.com

Many are still wondering which post office will process all the letters inscribed to God by the humble and soft spoken Munyaradzi Mazarire. What mode of transport are they going to use to make sure that they will reach their destination?

The letters are already sealed in huge carved rectangular wooden khaki envelopes bearing unique painted Shona totems' imagery stamps, stamped in Harare on October 27, 2011, but they are still hung on the sparkling white walls of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare for a month to puzzle worshippers and other audiences of all walks of life.

Madzisahwira by Munyaradzi Mazarire

Their contents may have been written on a blue paper by a yellow mighty marker, or engraved on a rotten sheet of metal now enjoying a new lease of life on an amazing wishful journey for billions, the details are still oblique but securely tucked in the sophisticated mind of one of the leading emerging young masters of high energy constructions, feeding on dead wood like termites.

Munyaradzi Mazarire cuts an unusual figure in Harare. Rather small to average stature but big headed because of his ever concealed long dreadlocks, he seems to flow rather than walk; quiet, ethereal, he seldom talks much and exceedingly gentle. Clearly his art comes from the inner realm of his philosophy and a view of life which remains relatively untouched by the changing fads of 'progress'. His work has a raw integrity that is uniquely and originally his own.

He is fond of blocks of wood that he whittles away, using sharp tools to engrave linear features that are often extended off the plain by thin metal bits, sometimes left suspended in outrageous compositions.

Quest for Righteousness by Munyaradzi Mazarire

Munyaradzi, being fascinated by esoteric space and perspective, presents illusions and subliminal constructions which dissolve the limitation of actual space and order. He says how we conceive reality depends on what is offered by our natural environment as well as what artists prepare for our visual awareness.

He calls his work zest art; it offers an illusion space which fuses two and three dimensional reality. Mazarire's intention is to create visual excitement through unique approaches to pictorial spaces to redefine how we see.

His most recent artworks in his unique maiden solo show are as interrogative as he captured our contemporaries' quest for righteousness. Munya says the seeking of purity to the Lord is characterised by religious and traditional diversity that has continually inspired many to redefine their identities to match the ever changing times and become acceptable for peace, love and harmony to prevail.

The belief is that there is a supreme spiritual being that created the earth and all its content and that there is life after death enable good morals values to prevail.

Vana Chipungu by Muyaradzi Mazarire

The new body of work represents prayers by various religious or traditional societies. On the huge envelops instead of addresses there are various extracts from Shona totems' narratives from which the opening lines serve as the titles of the respective works. They include 'Vana Makwira miti', 'Vana Tateguru', 'Vana Nyamushavi', 'Vana Chipungu', 'Vana Svosva Nepasi', 'Vana Maerera', 'Madzisahwira', 'Bira', 'The Sermon', 'Quest for Righteousness', 'Chipositori' and 'Nheuro'.

'Bira' is a combination of wooden cutoff images from a thin board with engraved features, suspended in thin air, depicting the Zezuru people's traditional ways of appeasing the spirits by their energetic dances to sacred melodies induced by such instruments as 'mbira', 'ngoma' ne'hosho' accompanied by heavy consumption of strong bitter traditional brew by vessels of wisdom, the repositories of knowledge, the elders of the kraal, and both invited and uninvited common men of the villages, some covering unimaginable stretches to descend upon free entertainment and feasting under the cover of the night.

The practices of various apostolic sects are represented by 'Chipostori' where an installation that ensemble a hung fairly large piece of clean white cloth with three red crosses sawn reaching either ends. On a marked square area of the floor just in front of it is a cluster of transparent plastic bottles filled with clear water on the near right corner. Next to the water in the middle are two parallel sticks lain towards the red crosses.

In between them is a hipped new titanium white cloth before a young green cactus-like plant underneath the hung cloth. On the near left corner, a traditional wooden plate is isolated containing riverbed grit summing up the nationwide common scenario.

Bira by Munyaradzi Mazarire

Another installation reflecting traditional Shona practice is well simplified by a marked square area containing a perfect circle constructed out of a layer of 'rapoko' (zviyo). Within the center of the circle a maroon rectangular piece of cloth with black and white designs (Jira reRetso) is well spread with a strip of black white dotted piece of cloth (Jira re Hanga) is placed diagonally on the one underneath with a hand carved wooden 'Nyami Nyami' walking stick at the center before a round wooden plate containing a little traditional snuff.

At the opposite width corner of the round plate a brown raw clay traditional bowl is placed with a small round opened gourd used for fetching water next to it. The title of the piece is 'Nheuro'.

Letter to God is a milestone exhibition for Munya who has featured in far too many group shows. There has never been anything similar on the local art scene though certain sections of worshippers may not find the power of creativity in it.

Mazarire has uniquely celebrated Buddhism, Hinduism, Rastafarianism, Ubuntu through Shona practices and Christianity. We look forward to learning more about the acknowledgement of the letters at their final destination and possibly their response.

Posted By: Diana Achieng

skip to top

Your Comments

skip to top

African Artists Portfolios

Geraldine Robarts is a Mixed Media Artist

Sithabile Mlotshwa is a Mixed Media Artist

Click To View All African Artist Portfolios

Kaafiri Kariuki at the Creativity Gallery

Shades of Time: An exhibition by Kaafiri Kariuki at the Creativity Gallery National Museum of Kenya

News By Regions

Featured Artist Portfolio

Title: Making Ways
Name: Tabitha Wa Thuku
Country: Kenya
Medium: Mixed media on heavy canvas
Size: 149 X 140 cms
Click here to view