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Zimbabwean curator scales art heights
Martin Chemhere, African Colours
May 19, 2008

http://zimbabwe.africancolours.net/content/16579

"Zimbabwe continues to be isolated from the International Contemporary Art World but we will continue to fight to reclaim our position in the International Art World," says rising Zimbabwean Curator Raphael Chikukwa from Dakar, Senegal. In Dakar, as part of an international jury for Dak'Art 2008, Chikukwa is globetrotting, a recent graduate with a MA Degree in curating Contemporary Design at the Kingston University, UK.

On his return from England in March, Chikukwa emphasized ‘I graduated with a distinction and I am looking forward to working in Africa and with the international community to develop contemporary African art."

A Chevening Scholar who left Zimbabwe a few years ago, and has been returning to the beleaguered nation only because "I love my country", Chikukwa is a rare breed of African artist, who has over the years fought hard to get the art of Africa and to receive international recognition.

His recent UK exposure, after having been there for some years, gets him to talk in glowing terms about the future of contemporary African art. "My experience at Kingston has been great. I have met so many new friends and colleagues in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture and also across the University in other Faculties."

He continues in one of his numerous online correspondences with Martin, "My experience of Kingston University is that it gives you the opportunity to interact with so many talented creative people from around the world. As an African curator currently doing my MA in curating Contemporary Design at Kingston I see the experience as a new chapter for our two communities, to link up with the international community. Since London is the centre of contemporary art in the world, this MA offers a special opportunity to visit museums and galleries in London. It has opened doors for me and the interaction with other international students will be an advantage for Africa and the rest of the world. Art and artists from Africa are sorely under-represented and marginalized in the UK, a situation that Kingston University is working to change. I hope to develop ongoing projects with the staff to strengthen the relationship between our two countries to enrich the future for both."

To complete his MA he researched and talked to several key people in African art and development including emerging young voices and the established ones.

"I looked for people who could give me a proper perspective on African Art, people who have traveled or have African art experience gained in some of the world's leading centers for African contemporary art like Dakar, Senegal and Johannesburg. My dissertation looked at why the Johannesburg Biennale, staged twice since its inception in 1994 and 1996 has not been seen again. Was it started prematurely, did it lack any support to sustain its growth, what really happened? "

In the wide-ranging talk, about this subject Chikukwa reckons that the Johannesburg Biennale had its potential to last, as it was one of most important art events in Africa.

Raphael Chikukwa was one of the first artists to work for the inaugural Johannesburg Biennale and the subsequent edition. "The Johannesburg Biennale has not been seen around since it was staged twice in the 90s. It was one of the most important art wants in Africa and was supposed to have grown into probably the biggest stage for contemporary African art. Dak'Art Biennale is now here and has taken over that mantle as Africa's biggest".

Chikukwa's opinion is that perhaps the downfall of the Johannesburg Biennale was the lack of government support. "Dak'Art has been a phenomenal success owing to the political goodwill it enjoys from the country's leadership, an aspect that I observed lacked with the Johannesburg Biennale."

Chikukwa worked in South Africa for more than seven years, in which period he used to network across southern Africa, meeting various arts and cultures. He also spoke about his other project titled "African Heroes" - which is a film and a pictorial exhibition.

This is a 36 minutes-long film already shown in the USA, Canada and UK to rave reviews. It talks about Black Africans who fought side by side with whites in the 2nd world war, which he described as a "reminder of the arrogance and abusive ways of the West towards black Africans." While studying in Britain, Chikukwa was further inspired to extend the film into a multi-media presentation that he hopes to complete in the future.

Early this year African Heroes film was screened in the USA between April and May this year, at Columbia University, following its earlier show in Ireland between 31 January and 3 February. The film was shot sometime last year in several Southern African countries namely Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and in Tanzania.

The exhibitions and film will showcase in Africa but dates are yet to be scheduled. Its showcase on home soil should be long awaited, and with Chikukwa gaining wider experience in his travels, he should be able to give it exciting dimensions, especially on its multimedia side.

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