National Gallery exhibition ends
THE 2023 National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) exhibition, which ran for two-and-a-half months, came to an end on December 8.
The conclusion of the expo, which the organisers reckon was successful, was marked by pomp and fanfare.
A cocktail party was held for those who took part in the event.
Speaking on the sidelines of the cocktail, Mr Raphael Chikukwa, the executive director of NGZ, said the fair was a resounding success.
“The exhibition surpassed expectations. The attendance and level of participation were higher than we expected,” he said.
According to the
NGZ director, the number of exhibitors and visitors who took part in the exhibition rose significantly compared to other periods.
“We had visitors and exhibitors drawn from across the globe.
“The number of visitors who passed through our doors was overwhelming, to say the least.”
After successfully hosting the 2023 exhibition, NGZ has already started working on the 2024 edition.
“We have no time to rest. We are already working on the next edition, which will be totally different from the one we had,” added Mr Chikukwa.
He said a lot of effort must be put into educating Zimbabweans about the importance of art.
“This exhibition was dominated by foreigners and, to me, this is not a good sign. In my view, the majority of Zimbabweans do not understand and appreciate art,” he said.
“The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is set to conduct a number of awareness campaigns aimed at educating locals about the importance of art. We need to have more local exhibitors and visitors. We must appreciate our art first for others to like it more.”
Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa, a curator at NGZ, encouraged art lovers to continue frequenting the gallery.
“The 2023 exhibitions are over, but that does not mean our doors are closed. I urge those who love art to occasionally visit us. Our doors will be open throughout the year,” said Muchemwa.