The document describes an exhibition called "Tabvezera" held at the Harare Polytechnic featuring works by three artists: Tendayi Shonhiwa, Memory Gurupira, and Pius Nyenyewa. It includes statements by the artists about their backgrounds and artistic practices as well as reviews of the exhibition praising the artists for using their works to challenge social norms and spark debate about socio-environmental issues in Zimbabwe. The exhibition curator Masimba Hwati aims to support emerging Zimbabwean artists and help establish new horizons for art in Zimbabwean society.

1. Tabvezera
Exhibition
Book by Zvikomborero Mandangu
2013Harare Polytechnic in conjunction with U.S Embassy (PAS)

2. Tabve
Zera
Ambassador David Abell
(Deputy Chief Of Missions)

3. abvezera was a presentation of something that has a certain je nais se qoi. Having
spent two years of study with Maradze Shonhiwa and a year with Nyenyewa; the
Tcommon factor is an end. Not the end. Here is two Artists whom have gone through
an education but answered a calling long before they entered the doors of The Art
Department. With Memory Gurupira the feeling, as getting to know her and understand
her work is concerned, one finds this calling also coming long before the institution trained
her. Artists are born and not made. It is a critical argument that goes through, in echoes; the
halls of academies, at cognoscente's high tables and through the grey matter of free
thinkers who are but slaves to time. It is a personal belief. You have it or you do not. Two
percent of this world are artists. Clearly, those who conceive it. Training creates Artists, true.
Trained artists matter. Born Artist is just better!
So this is the end, an end rather for these three who have come of age. In that end is the
legendary world that they now must go out into, to face it and to capture its ugly face, or the
human idea that corrupts the natural aspect of it; Maradze Shonhiwa, Gurupira and
Nyenyewa-magi in the face of obscurity, diseconomy and straightjacket ignorance.
Newfound wisdom will now come to present itself in their work and for the viewer; the
future is through Tabvezera a foundation of an Age of clarity.
Orero-Harare2013
EPILOGUE
Tabvezera
Exhibition
“Artists are born and not made. It is a critical argument
that goes through, in echoes; the halls of academies, at
cognoscente's high tables and through the grey matter of
free thinkers who are but slaves to time.”
Zvikomborero‘Orero’Mandangu

4. Tabvezera marks the threshold of Independent thinking and acting for
the artist freshmen who now have to find new ways to connect and relate
themselves to the Novel art universe. Art is a complex sea of ideas,
activities and phenomenon that eventually need to be packaged for
public consumption and benefit. It is rather unfortunate that the stalwart
approach to art teaching currently existing in our nation can be linear and
thereby promoting anti-progressive thinking. This reflects itself in the
inability of the system to holistically empower the freshman with other
skills apart from craft, to enable him to augment his practice. Often the
freshman has to employ survival skills and teach himself the art of
resourcefulness. The new artist faces many obstacles that he has to
overcome chief among them, the national absence of structures to
support and sustain visual art .The new artist has to question convention
and think of new ways to present himself and his practice. Tabvezera is an
exclamation not only for freshman but for every artist who realizes the
imperative need to take matters into their own hands. Sokunge (as if)
MasimbaHwati- 2013
“Art is a complex sea of ideas, activities
and phenomenon that eventually need to
bepackagedforpublicconsumption ...”
Exhibition Curator
Foreword

5. Words From The Author Of
Tabvezera:
“Zvakaoma kufadza meso evaoni kuburikidza nezviumbwa kana mifananidzo yatinotara, asi
chokwadi ndechekuti ndinowana dzikinuro kuva mhizha. Ndinowana dzikinuro kuburikidza
nemabasa angu iwaya. Zvinogona kuoma usiku hose asi mufaro unouya mangwanani.
Ndinotsvakawo kuzikamwa kuburikidza nechiitiko“Tabvezera”. Hongu ndakavamba ukama
uhu asi hazvireve kuti ndabudirira mumabasa iwaya eumhizha asi zvichabuda mushure mazvo.
Ndakava nerudo nekuumba nemadhaka pandaikura ndichiiona ambuya vangu (nyakutumbura
baba) vachiuumba hari dzinoti mhirimo,hadyana,pfuko,mbiya nedzimwewo mhando dzehari.
Kungozvifungachete kuti vakatoraramisa mhuri yavo yaiva nevana vasere kuburikidza
nekuumba hari zvinondipa zororo mupfungwa kuti tarenda ndiyo mhinduro mukurarama
kwedu vanhu. Zvino mabiko aya ndinoapa kwavari ndichivarangarira- Ambuya Madhuve
(VhanjeristaShonhiwa)”
“ItisdifficulttoconvincetheeyeoftheviewerthroughanartworkbutonethingforsureisthatI
find pleasure by just being in the right environment and position to share my thoughts with an
amicable audience. I find pleasure talking through my work. It might prove difficult in the night
but joycomes in the morning. I seek recognition in this exhibit “Tabvezera” (coming of age).
Having to initiate the partnership between the two parties does not guarantee my success
howeverbutwhatshallcomeoutofit.
I fell in love with clay when I first set eyes on my grandmothers molded clay pots-mhirimo,
hadyana,pfuko,mbiyaandothertypesofclaypots.Justthefactthatshelookedafterherfamily
of eight siblings from the proceeds of making pottery in the rural area brings me pleasure. It
confirms that talent is all we need to make a living. This exhibition is a tribute to her- mbuya
Madhuve(EvangelistaShonhiwa)“
Shonhiwa 2013

6. Statements such as these from mid-career and neophyte artists
capture the factual pulse of the city, today in 2013.Their vision tells
ofthehereandnow,withstatementsreachingouttochallengeusto
createabetterandbrightertomorrow.
The visual arts are a recognised national attribute of the country.
These young artists from the Harare Polytechnic attest to the
originality, creativity, wisdom and foresight of Zimbabwean
people. They have elucidated the multiple facets of our social
collective life as a nation. It is only befitting that they receive the
patronageandsupportofthepublic,forposterityandleavecarbon-
freefootprintsinthevisionoftheyouthoftomorrow.
Thesenewartistshaveplayedtheirpartincreatingnewhorizonsfor
thefutureofartinZimbabwean society.CuratedbyMasimbaHwati
a prominent professional artist and Visual Arts Lecturer, the show
was opened by the Deputy Ambassador and well-co-ordinated by
JillianBonnardeaux,theDeputyPublicAffairsOfficeriscurrentlyon
display in the library at the Public Affairs section of the Embassy of
theUnitedStatesatEastgate.
facets of our social collective life as a nation. It is only befitting that
they receive the patronage and support of the public, for posterity
and leave carbon-freefootprints in the vision of the youth of
tomorrow.
Thesenewartistshaveplayedtheirpartincreatingnewhorizonsfor
thefutureofartinZimbabwean society.CuratedbyMasimbaHwati
a prominent professional artist and Visual Arts Lecturer, the show
was opened by the Deputy Ambassador and well-co-ordinated by
JillianBonnardeaux,theDeputyPublicAffairsOfficeriscurrentlyon
display in the library at the Public Affairs section of the Embassy of
theUnitedStatesatEastgate.
A multi-media exhibition of Visual Art by Harare Polytechnic
students Tendayi Shonhiwa, Memory Gurupira and Pius
Nyenyewa at the US Information Services, Eastgate, Harare
InanexhibitionbeingheldattheUnitedStatesPublicAffairssectionat
the Gold Bridge in Eastgate Complex, in the city- Harare Polytechnic
final yearArt students,Tendayi Maradze Shonhiwa, MemoryGurupira
and Pius Nyenyewa present an increasingly sophisticated manner of
using visual art to challenge social preconceptions and to enter into
debateaboutthecurrentstateofsocio-environmentalaffairs.
If art in Zimbabwe is to be seen as a barometer of our socio-cultural
milieu and our environment, both natural and man-made, then their
Art exhibition Tabvezera, (Coming of Age), bears testimony to this
idea.
The cultural and aesthetic manifestations of present-day Zimbabwe
take into consideration various socio-cultural environments, and set
the tone for re-planning the future egalitarian society in Zimbabwe,
whichmanyyoungartistsandcitizensaspireto.
Among the young artists taking part in this exhibition are those that
aspire for socio-cultural progress and question the history and current
existence of environmental and cultural disorder clearly visible in
manyurbanspacesofZimbabwetoday.Theydrawtheviewertoreflect
not only on new methods and modes of art making, but also on
importantsocio-culturalfacetsofourcollectivelifeasZimbabweans.
These respective young artists have become more introspective and
more questioning on what makes us Zimbabweans and on the space
we occupy. The work displayed is not negative or confrontational;
rather it draws our attention to a positive and pro-active ideology of
recouping, recycling and rearranging discarded material and creating
thought-provokingartoutofurbandebris.
Paintings, photographs, prints and assemblages depicting the varying
rural and urban realities that affect us, as citizens, and transform the
urban landscape into imagery makes the work accessible, visual and
conversational. The artworks give us an insight into the role that art
and culture can play in weaving the social fabric of our daily lives and
rehabilitatingtheurbanchaosfoundinoururbanenvironment.
DrTonyMonda
Artwriterandcritic
Dr. Tony Monda holds a PhD in Post-
Modern Art Theory and a Doctorate in
Business Administration( DBA) in Post-
Colonial Art and Heritage Studies. He
alsoholdsaLawandArtDiplomafrom
Georgetown University, Washington
D.C., and worked with WALA
( Wa s h i n g t o n A r e a L a wy e r s
Association). He studied law and
photography at the Corcoran School of
Art, Washington, DC., USA. He is also a
practicing artist, art critic, author,
designer and Corporate Image
Consultant

7. Tendayi Maradze ShoniwaArtists and their works- By Orero
It was in January 2008 when I first met him. 'Zhopa' the tall lanky figure behind me called. I
turned and was tongue-tied as if I was caught in some parallel boundary somewhere off in
Asia:gunspointingatmefrombothsides.MustIrespondtothisman?Whoisheandwhatis
he saying? I said to myself. Accordingly I did what any able bodied seaman would do and
repeated his greeting forthwith.Today conversations in this fanalago ranged from football
to politics, current affairs to computer games and even the location as to which fabric shop
sold the cloth that made most of the garments worn by most of the characters in Rupert the
Bearanditssubsequentbeingblownbyaseparatistmovementofpowermice.
'Zhopa' I replied.This is how I often communicate withTendayi Maradze Shonhiwa.
Many a time has been spent talking of football derbies here and
elsewhere. In common we share the support for Dynamos Football
Club: 'De, de, De-mbare' with a vengeance. Reminiscing another
momentinourfirstyearatanartschool,aninstructoraskedwhywe
choseart?
The usual poesy aboutArt being beautiful,Art making money and
so on, was chanted as the instructor composed the flow of the
dialogue as a conductor before his players. When it came to
Tendayi, his answer was like the first stage of a novel narrated in
thefirstperson-sayAClockworkOrange!
“Ever since I could remember… I have always loved football” the
class burst into laughter, he continued “football is fluid, it has set
rules and I wanted to be a good footballer” at this point the
instructor , more confused than amused attempted to halt
Tendayi's DavidCopperfield account, alas, he continued, “I had
aninjury-soIcouldnotbeasoccerplayer”
Today one thinks of this statement.This story is of an artist who
hashissportatheartandhisheartatsport.ItislikeDuchamp's'
obsession with chess. Manet's with ballet, the Blaue Reiter
group and their horses; football is Tendayi's stream of
consciousness which you cannot switch off; in as much as you
cannotswitchoffhisArt!

8. Tendayi Maradze ShoniwaArtists and their works
Spirited Forms

9. Tendayi Maradze ShoniwaArtists and their works

10. Tendayi Maradze ShoniwaArtists and their works

11. For all I know I've been an artist ever since I can
remember, from preschool through primary level and
even went on to be president of MsengeziArtClub 2007.
It's only after high school I figured out I had no
interest in anything like law, medicine, or
accounting like the rest of the bunch of
teens my age but only wanted to be
known for my punch kicking art,
luckily for me unlike most local
families my Mom and Dad
supported me on my art career
interest. Somehow I felt like my
calling was more than just drawing,
painting and sculpture which is
quite awesome but a bit more,
more beyond our borders, since I
waswhatsomewouldcallagaming
and cartoon junkie, I thought of
something, something more like
“Animation”, I had finally found
myself. So now I channel my chi
(Chinese word for energy) toward
character design, digital painting,
and motion graphic and visual effects
but still got a lot to learn. I think it's safe
to say my quest for animation is since to
start, it's a pity that we don't really have any
proper animation schools here within the
Zimbabwean borders but all hope is not lost as
yetforme,Iwillbeananimator.
Pious B Nyenyewa - Graphic ArtistArtists and their works
Fourth and last born of Mr. J and Mrs. E Nyenyewa. Born in April
1991(21yrs of age). 2 sisters, and a brother. Lives in Avondale, Rural
home Zvimba. Strong Christian based background and always.
Graduated from Msengezi High School in 2007, startedArt and design
studiesatHararePolytechnicin2010attheageof19.Duringthecourse
of the studies, was apprenticed to InCreation Design Studio
(www.increation.co.zw)representedbyBatsiraiMadzonga(aninvited
guest).Currently finishing off the studies in the fourth and final year at
HararePolytechnicCollege.
Artist statement

12. Pious B Nyenyewa - Graphic ArtistArtists and their works
Team Nerd Head_Render_Retouchmo_gunz_standard_definition

13. Pious B Nyenyewa - Graphic ArtistArtists and their works
Team Nerd Head_RenderMythical Lonely Doors
My'Objective'notdreambecausedreamscanfade,'Objective',istobethewordonthestreet,writtenandreadinthebooksofZimbabweanartistsasoneofthemost
outspoken animators in Zimbabwe, the guy who gave Zimbabweans a reason to go pay at the box office for a seat in the movie house to watch a 2:30 hour good
Zimbabwean animated cartoon and not regret it because it was just simply awesome. I believe we have a lot of epic stories to tell and an empty platform that needs to
befilledandIbelievethatthatpersontofillitme,Iamthemanforthejob,hopeitwon'tbefilleduntilIgetthere.
I am talented, I know it and I don't need to prove it, I'm more than just a graphic designer because it's just feels too shallow for me but I'm an artist a digital artist, who
rendersartlikeafineartistviadigitalmedia.IenjoymyPhotoshoppainting,3Drendering,characterdesignandtoanextentbranding…
RightnowIlivebymytwodesignaliases“NerdHead”andthenewandmostrecent“Steed”

14. Memory Gurupira - Graphic Artist & PhotographerArtists and their works
MemoryGurupira is a photographer and graphic designer based in Harare. She was guided
byherfather,aprofessionalphotographerwhoworkedforyearsinthemassmediaindustry.
Photography with its ability to record, mirror and to comment on the object captured in this
case, the notion of work and informal trading in Mbare and other peri-urban locations, the
artist uses the photographic image as a tool for exploring current socio-economic traders on
thefringeoftheinformalsector.
Given that artists are often able to express well ahead of the rest of our society's hopes,
expectations,theirobjectionsandstruggles,onecannothelpbutrecognisetheroleofartand
culture in development of a country. It makes one understand and recognise culture and art
as an integral part of development and empowers artists to promote cultural and
environmental renewal and the implementation of national policies towards the
achievementofsustainablesocio-economicprogress,goodgovernanceandsocialjustice.
Days Of Our Lives 3
Days Of Our Lives 1
“Growing up my dad being a
professional photographer
instilled in me my passion for
photography. In the next
10years, I wish to be a well-
kn o wn ph otograph er in
competitions such as the World
Press Photo Competition
Exhibitions, which has only
beenwonbyInternationalphotographers. Iwouldliketobe
the first black African woman to win the prestigious prize
andeventoscooptheMcCannPhotographerAward”.

15. Memory Gurupira - Graphic Artist & PhotographerArtists and their works
In her unique
style,
Memory
captures
human
emotion, and
breathtaking
stills of life's
daily
moments in
her pictures.
Days Of Our Lives 2

16. Exhibition In Pictures

17. Exhibition In Pictures

18. Tabvezera
ExibitionBook by Zvikomborero Mandangu
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