Private Collection by the late Professor Cyril Rogers

Professor Cyril Rogers was the fourth Executive Director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe from 1985 to 1993. Rogers grew up in New Guinea and he later worked in Southern Africa during the 70s and returned to head the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare in 1985. Among his many concrete achievements Professor Rogers was the founding Editor of the Southern African Art magazine in 1992 and the facilitator of the National Gallery Market where emerging and experienced artists sold the work of the nation’s master artists. Cyril Rogers was a man of wide knowledge and interests. Besides being an author he was a collector of art from across Africa with the aid of his wife and son Elliot, who is still the steward of many works from his father’s collection.

Sculpture in Oceania first appeared in New Guinea as a series of stone figures found throughout the island, but mostly in mountainous highlands. The content of the sculptures fit into three categories: mortars, pestles, and freestanding figures. The tops of many pestles contain images, often of birds or human heads. Mortars show similar imagery, or sometimes geometric patterns. Present in this exhibition are figures again portraying similar themes such as human rituals and animals.

The original significance of these pieces however, are unknown, but were perhaps used in the context of rituals. Covering a wide African geographical area, Oceanic art is extremely diverse in style and technique. These art objects include ancestor figures, ceremonial shields, masks, stone carvings, decorated human skulls and pottery.

Most Oceanic arts are considered primitive but today they are worth a fortune due to their historic depth. Melanesian art is the most striking of all the Oceanic arts because of its decorative brilliance and imaginative ornament. Associated with ancestor and spirit cults, headhunting, and cannibalism, it is typified by exaggerated natural forms both colourful and disturbing. Many of the carved figures are demonic in appearance, at least to Western eyes.

But to Rogers these works set to uncover the mysterious cultures of native Africans from New Guinea and around the continent. His hard work and collection of art today serve as background on the myths attached to art. The NGZ is delighted to present aspects of his extensive collection to the public. Most of these works are available for purchase and interested parties can contact Mr. Ndundu the Exhibitions Officer for further details.