The first exhibition of the ARTCO Gallery Berlin in the new year is dedicated to two painters whose artistic work describes the political and social conditions in the South-East African Zimbabwe.
On display are recent works by Richard Mudariki and Kufa Makwavarara.
Richard Mudariki was born in Zimbabwe in 1985 and studied painting with Allen Kupeta in Chitungwiza a few kilometers from Harare. His artistic talent was discovered early by Derek Huggins (1940-2021) and nurtured through Delta Gallery.
His powerful paintings, inspired by modernism, satirically and mockingly criticize undesirable developments in the political and social conditions in his home country Zimbabwe and in his adopted country South Africa.
Mudariki's works were a central element of the exhibition FIVE BHOBH - PAINTING AT THE END OF AN ERA at the Zeitz MOCCA Museum in Cape Town. This show of works was recognized as the best exhibition of 2019 by HYPERALLERGIC, among others.
The artist lives and works in Cape Town.
Kufa Makwavarara was born in 1983 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
He began drawing at school age, after which his teachers encouraged him to devote himself to art. In 1999, he won first place in the UNESCO ASSOCIATED SCHOOLS PROJECT NETWORK. Kufa went on to study at the National Gallery School of Visual Art and Design in Harare. In 2000, the young artist exhibited for the first time at Gallery Delta. This was followed by another exhibition at the Zimbabwe National Art Gallery, whose permanent collection includes two of his paintings.
Kufa Makwavarara is a careful observer of his environment. Although the artist has lived in Cape Town for many years, his mostly large-format expressive paintings address the political and social conditions in his native Zimbabwe. Where he comments on grievances, injustices and political aberrations with canvas and brush, he does so in all clarity, but never without irony and humor. Makwavarara's works were also part of the exhibition FIVE BHOBE at Zeitz MOCCA between September 2018 and May 2019.
