‘WOMEN TRAJECTORIES’

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is hosting yet again one of the biggest photographic exhibitions in Zimbabwe. This auspicious exhibition kicks off on the 3rd of August running until the 5th of September. 2010 World cup soccer was a special event which marked the birth of African renaissance. It unveiled the potential opportunities of interaction for a diverse range of different cultures. Mr Calvin Dondo the founder and organizer of the show said, “We at Gwanza would like to celebrate this historical event by showcasing the best of contemporary African photography, which tends to shun the overrepresented subjects and concepts we already know. This vilifies our women as the cradle of our existence, hence the theme for this year is ‘Women Trajectories’. We want to show positive images, where they map up their own strategies and are masters of their own destiny”.

The works to be exhibited also seek to engage visitors in women’s experiences as they strive to succeed in a male dominated world. The photographs highlight women going about their everyday duties, roles and experiences as mothers, wives, business people and activists. Artistic photography reflects many of the same trends as other branches of visual art but only that it is more iconic, meaning that they reflect on matters happening in real life. Photography is ambiguous, it’s a unique art form, which captures a piece of time, forever frozen and forever immortalized. Photographs convey the essence of a people, place or thing. It enriches us with perspectives, vital stories of who we are, informing and transforming our experiences of the world. We acquire tastes and characteristic through the pervasive influence and power of photography.

We are living in a world where images/photography challenges us to reconsider preconceived ideas. It influences and changes our perceptions of life. It has got a ‘genius’ of its own. Thus, in the spirit of the World Cup, of bringing different people and cultures together as one, we would want to include photographers from all corners, to interrogate the rapidly changing standards and conventions of contemporary African photography. Among the exhibitors are local and regional photographers from Ethiopia, Mozambique, Cote d’Ivoire that include Lucy Broderick, Nancy Mteki, Chipo Laba, Kutlwano Moagi, Mario Macilou, Lerato Maduna and Michael Tsegayo.

The fast changing world and the hustle and bustle gives no room for complacency, the transition of societies and a variety of cultural backgrounds make diverse development of cultures and abundant artists creativity. The development of contemporary African photography is a story of breaking through previously held cultural, religious aesthetic tastes to discover languages which best engage the people and issues of our time. The images will transcend both concept and form breaking intimate expression of women.