Dumisani Ndlovu
Gweru – Award-winning visual artist, Keith Zenda, is in Seoul, South Korea where he is taking part in an exhibition which started on August 25 and will end on 9 September 2023.
The Lower Gweru based veteran artist is showcasing his artwork at Sang Myung University Future Centennial Hall, gallery wolhae. Alumni association officially launched the exhibition. Zenda who with time perfected is his self-taught art often exhibit artworks with his art students, does solo exhibitions and at times partner with the National Gallery in Bulawayo.
“The artwork from Shona sculptures, paintings and charcoal drawings is being exhibited in one of the biggest art galleries here in South Korea under the theme Africa Art Exhibition. I am extremely happy to be the only painter invited to represent Zimbabwe and exhibit at such an international platform. To me this is an honour,” he said.
Zenda, who is the Chairperson of Musasa Arts and Culture group, is enthusiastic about his first international exhibition. He said it has always been his wish to exhibit at such high profile platforms where he expects to network with artists from other countries.
“This time l got an opportunity to do an exhibition in South Korea and it is my first time to go beyond Africa,” he said.
Zenda appealed to the government to adequately fund the arts sector for the benefit of up- coming artists. He recently opened an art gallery in Mkoba 17 aimed at promoting art and culture in the community.
Zenda started his artwork from humble beginnings at his rural area in Chirumhanzu, Midlands Province at a tender age of 10. He became a full-time artist in 2003 after finishing his Ordinary Level at Mambo High School.
He has scooped a number of national awards which include the National Arts Merit Award (NAMA), Faceit Zimbabwe, National Gallery of Zimbabwe Award and the Morgan and Company Artspiration Masked Art Competition 2D Category award, among others. The creative industry in Zimbabwe contributes close to US$100 million annually to the country’s GDP, with thousands of people working in cultural industry, according to a study by the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe in 2009.
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