Story by Bruce Chahwanda
VICE President Colonel (Retired) Kembo Mohadi has been impressed by the quality of exhibitions at the 60th Venice Biennale Art Exhibition in Italy, saying Zimbabwe must replicate the exhibition back home as a way of promoting cultural tourism.
The Zimbabwe delegation at the art exhibition, led by Vice President Mohadi toured the main showcase in Venice where various art exhibitions are on display.
Some of the exhibitions included those from Doreen Sibanda, and Josiah Manzi representing Tengenege, among others.
Vice President Mohadi said Zimbabwe needs to replicate such kind of exhibitions to attract visitors from other countries as well as locals to see value of art.
“We need to take it higher than that. Maybe next time, the minister and his team will be in a position to have an exhibition of this kind back home. We have come and we have seen what other people are doing, and we can replicate back home. I’m very much impressed.”
The Vice President appreciated the art on exhibition, saying it has become a lucrative business which must be treated as such for the benefit of the country.
“Our people also need to see what they are doing so that they can get other people to emulate what is being done. I know people do it because of passion, but they should take art as a business. The country can actually benefit a lot from this. What has surprised me is that some of the waste matter, the non-degradables, have been put to use here. Things like plastics, items made out of plastics, out of aluminium, which is all non-degradable and it’s bringing out wonderful pieces, pieces of world-class standards.”
Zimbabwe’s pavilion receives attention from more than 500 people daily, admiring the pieces of art on display which depict the country’s rich history, heritage and culture.
