Lovemore Chazingwa – Own Correspondent.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – THE seriousness and intensity of Koen Vamechelen’s work will inspire the visiting public as well as artists and creatives to locate their unique interest and pursue it to an ever widening and deepening way, by so doing making a very real life contribution to the development of new knowledge, director of the national gallery of Zimbabwe Mrs. Doreen Sibanda has said.
Mrs Sibanda made the remarks while delivering her speech at the official launch of the currently running solo exhibition by Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen.
The launch was held on the first day of the exhibition on August 5.
The exhibition is speaking to the public under the banner Planetary Community Chicken at the NGZ from August 5 -31.
It is an exhibition that is set in multi-media with real life creatures a central part of it. Live chickens from cross-breeding are part of this innovative exhibition which is not only unique but also immortal in the lives of the human race.
The director said that the concept offers a a mature and timely insight into different aspects which when put together cascade down to the most basic feature of life, that is, eating: “The concept of the exhibition offers a sublime insight on various aspects: that face value poultry which is cosmetic, then comes the CosmoGolem in the sculpture garden which serves as an installation to complement the one we are viewing here.
“When insight fully considered, both vehicles serve to discuss the power of community through the most common feature of all fauna which is eating.”
Koen’s ideas and integration shot from the hip from the time he was introduced by NGZ board of trustees vice chairperson Rosetta Peters.
“When Koen first visited us on introduction by our board of trustees vice chairperson Rosetta Peters, we were immediately inspired with his presentation about the significance of chicken not in their literary sense but as a metaphor for humanity.
“We have been totally seduced by Koen’s method of work as very soon after that encounter we received proposed detailed specifications of the concept in our space with the gallery,” she revealed.
Another vital cog to the exhibition is the inspiration Koen encompasses from our local organic entrepreneur Chido Govera’s mushroom project in Chistonbank that had to be visited for a first hand interaction into what really the exhibition would bring forth.
“We had an opportunity to visit Chido Govera’s project to see her mushroom project where we experienced potential of these elements which included agriculture, science philosophy and art coming together,” explained a visibly involved Sibanda.
At a pre-exhibition briefing to the public, the artist’s thinking, concepts and overall framework were brought to the fore to enhance insights into his creativity and above all the idea of cross breeding as a cornerstone to communities working together worldwide.
She continued:”At the Harare Conversations on Thursday, August 4, a day before the launch of the exhibition, the artist presented his ideas to the public and added other insights into his thinking, conceptual frameworks and totally creative mobilization of many diverse professions to really look at life and see what it really means to be part of the universe.
“The installations both inside and outside the gallery are outstanding in their level of engagement. A very significant manner is evoked by seemingly simple construction, however ring-fencing them in the museum set up augments their reflective and creative power in a single narrative. A different way of thinking is catapulted as we delve into a poignant awareness.”
The exhibition is segmented into live , motion picture and still installations that combine to bring out an exhilarating experience. It is also set at various physical levels for the utmost impact to the eye and mind of the visitor.
The launch was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, excellencies, government officials, artists, members of the Future of Hope Foundation, NGZ board of trustees, journalists various stakeholders and members of the public.
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