**Concept Overview**
“An African Story” is a transformative, yearlong exhibition series running from September 2024 in Harare to September 2025, also culminating in Harare. This global art initiative is designed to spotlight the beauty, complexity, and resilience of African culture, told through the eyes of Zimbabwe’s most exceptional artists. With stops in Harare, Dubai, Zurich, Cape Town, Berlin, and New York, the series aims to captivate international audiences while giving back to communities in Zimbabwe through conservation, education, and empowerment initiatives.
**Main Objectives**
1. **Global Cultural Exchange**: Showcase Zimbabwean art on an international platform, building bridges between Africa and the rest of the world.
2. **Heritage and Storytelling**: Revive and celebrate the stories of Great Zimbabwe and other African traditions through visual art, sculptures, and discussions.
3. **Empowering Artists and Communities**: Elevate the profiles of Zimbabwean artists and fund community projects that contribute to education, conservation, and cultural preservation.
4. **Art as a Vehicle for Change**: Use art to raise awareness about conservation, gender empowerment, and the inclusion of artists with disabilities.
- **Thematic Foundation**“An African Story” delves into: - **African Myths and Legends**: Featuring pieces inspired by the Shona mythology, Great Zimbabwe’s grandeur, and the spiritual connections of the continent.
- **Nature and Conservation**: Highlighting Africa’s diverse wildlife, landscapes, and the role art plays in promoting ecological balance.
- **Contemporary African Identity**: Exploring the evolution of African culture in the modern era, celebrating its adaptability and innovation.
- **Community and Empowerment**: Showcasing artists' efforts to uplift their communities through art, charity, and education.
**Yearlong Exhibition Journey**
**Opening Vernissage – Harare (September 2024)**
- Features 20 leading Zimbabwean artists, including renowned names like Keith Zenda, Tonderai Mujuru, Barry Lungu, and Sampson Kuvenguhwa. - Focus: Introducing audiences to Zimbabwean artistic traditions and contemporary storytelling.
**Dubai (November 29 - December 13, 2024)** - Venue: Andakulova Gallery. - Highlights: A blend of vernissage, live painting workshops, and a panel discussion on African heritage and charity, in collaboration with Dzimbahwe Arts and Cultural Heritage Hub.
¨China: November 26, 2024, to February 28, 2025¨
- Venue Hong Art Museum
¨Zurich: May 2025 at Puls 5¨
¨New York: July 2025 at the Hamptons¨
Future Locations: Additional exhibitions may follow.
**Closing Event – Harare (September 2025)**
**Artistic Highlights**
1. **Featured Artists**:
- **Keith Zenda**: Capturing the vibrancy of Zimbabwean life and abstract heritage themes. - **Tonderai Mujuru**: Focusing on wildlife and ecological harmony. - **Barry Lungu**: Infusing surrealism into African cultural narratives. - **Sampson Kuvenguhwa**: Sculptures rooted in Shona mythology, including works like *Moon Mother Guardian of Life*.
2. **Signature Pieces**:
- Sculptures in Kuvenguhwa’s "Dry Tree" style. - Paintings showcasing the Himba tribe alongside wildlife, highlighting cultural preservation and nature’s interconnectedness. - Special focus on works inspired by Great Zimbabwe ruins.
**Interactive Components**- **Snack & Paint Events**: Guests learn painting techniques from master artists. - **Virtual Exhibitions**: Artgal.online offers global accessibility to the exhibition. - **Art Workshops**: Empowering aspiring artists in local and international communities. - **Charity Initiatives**: Proceeds support underprivileged artists and fund educational workshops and conservation projects.
**Community Impact and Legacy**
“An African Story” is more than an art exhibition—it is a movement to uplift African voices, empower communities, and preserve a rich heritage. By connecting global audiences to Zimbabwean art and culture, the series ensures that Africa’s stories resonate far and wide, inspiring future generations while making a tangible difference in the lives of artists and their communities.