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Africa Moyo in Venice, Italy

VICE-PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi is expected here today to attend the 60th Venice Biennale.

The international art exhibition, known as “the Olympics of the art world”, opened on April 20 and closes on November 24.

It showcases 333 artists under the theme, “Stranieri ovunque”, Italian for “Foreigners everywhere”.

Zimbabwe has a pavilion where it is showcasing the works of Gillian Rosselli, Troy Makaza, Sekai Macheche, Moffat Takadiwa, Victor Nyakauru and Komborerai Chapfika.

60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Veneziaaa

Yesterday, Zimbabwe’s acting Ambassador to Italy, Caroline Matipira, confirmed VP Mohadi’s visit.

“The visit by Vice-President Mohadi for the Venice Biennale is very important for the country because his presence here is affirming the role being played by our talented artists, who are displaying world-class artefacts that have drawn famous and world art collectors,” she said.

“Some of them (world art collectors) are already buying artefacts, and some are coming to Zimbabwe to buy. Secondly, the importance of this international event is that it raises awareness among our youths who are unemployed and some who are already trying to find their path in the arts. 

“To them, we say the National Art Gallery is your place where you can find help to link with the international community of artists.”

Acting Zimbabwe Ambassador to Italy Caroline Matipira

Acting Ambassador Matipira added that Government has invested huge sums of money to support artists, so they realise incomes, but more importantly, raise the country’s flag high when they travel abroad for exhibitions.

“So, we are grateful and very pleased that the VP is coming to grace this exhibition,” she said.

Turning to benefits of participating in the Venice Biennale, acting Ambassador Matipira said it can boost tourism since some people visiting the country’s pavilion may also want to travel to Zimbabwe to sample the works of artists that were unable to present their work at the Venice Biennale, while the artists make money out of their artefacts.

Further, participation in the Biennale is part of cultural diplomacy, which Zimbabwe is advancing, together with economic diplomacy, to boost the economy and relations with other countries.

If art is promoted to a level where the majority of youths take up the trade, said acting Ambassador Matipira, more jobs would be created for the benefit of the economy.

“I want to just appreciate our highly talented artists for the work they are doing. It’s really a world-class exhibition which is putting Zimbabwe on the international map in terms of art and culture,” said Ambassador Matipira.

The Zimbabwe Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is situated in Santa Maria della Pieta.

It harnesses the concept of kududunuka, an exploration of ideas of the unravelling of the world.

Commissioner for the pavilion is Mr Raphael Chikukwa, who is also the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe executive director.

A number of visitors were noted at the pavilion yesterday, with more expected in the next few days as the exhibition inches towards the end.