Our Artists

Printed Textiles

Name of Artist:Tendayi Duncan Viki

Date of Birth:1959-Current

Printed Textiles        2009

Tendayai Duncan Viki is a promising textile designer who   specializes in flour batiks.Tendayi’s work inspires many to push the boundaries of the medium and create new purpose, for this art form. As an explorer of the unusual and a believer in the mystery of creation, Tendayi focuses on a broad range of subjects and his ideas cover a wide range of themes including the ever present technology boom in “Africa.com” or the expressive way in which music inspires him in “Urban Groove”. His color palate ranges from bright to neutral and is inspired by the changing of the seasons and the colors of the msasas

Tendayai was born in 1959 in Harare and grew up in Highfield. He completed his ‘O’ levels in 1977 and then was given a British Government scholarship to attend school in England but unfortunately got ill so he had to  return to Zimbabwe at the end of 1979.   Tendayi began to work in the arts in the early 80’s and believes that his talents are a gift. Diki joined the Zimba Craft Co-operative where he met his mentor Jane Pilossof who taught him all he knows about batiking ,  from there he rose from committee member to shop manager, prior to being shop manager,  he had a brief stint as an art teacher at Hatfield Girl’s High School, and as a musician .

The economic situation has had both a positive and negative effect on Tendayis work and has  effected his production. This situation has  also offered him and other Zimbabwean’s a virgin economy on which they can build a United Nations.

Tendayi’s hope is developing this batik technique both commercially as well as for exhibitions. Diki’s advice for the youth is to get training as it lessens stress and associate with more artists as it broadens your horizons. Tendayis goal over the next year is to hold a solo exhibition of his work.