Association promotes visual artist

VISUAL Artists’ Association of Bulawayo (VAAB ) interim chairman George Masarira yesterday said they were doing online profiling of visual artists with a view of building an audience that buys as most physical exhibition spaces have been closed as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Masarira said they were showcasing one artist online every week as part of open dialogue on the artist’s work.

“For most of Bulawayo visual artists, it’s hard to survive in this COVID-19 crisis because visual artists in Bulawayo depend on the tourism industry and most of the exhibition spaces in Bulawayo are closed. Even if you try an online exhibition, it’s not like seeing the real thing and no one is buying at the moment,” Masarira told NewsDay

Life & Style.

He said their industry had been crippled and most artists no longer worked hard as they used to.

“Some of the visual artists have run out of material to use as they no longer have funds and few are striving to push and move forward even if it’s tricky. So we have even taken the challenge of raising awareness to the public of this pandemic through their art,” he said.

Masarira said in Bulawayo, no online exhibition had been done yet as some artists had no access to the internet.

“Those who are doing it they do so in their own capacity with their private galleries through their online site,” he said.

“There are few individuals who are making it online, but for the majority, it’s tricky.”