JOHANNESBURG - They say once art enters a family, it establishes roots and, for generations, bears fruits. Its certainly true for Tendayi Kaizali, a painter now starting to see the green shoots of success in Johannesburg.The son of one of Zimbabwes well-known musicians, Sabastian Mbata, who played drums for greats such as Thomas Mapfumo or Michael Lanas, Kaizali is not only involved in the marketing of the pictures he paints, he also teaches art.
The graduate from the National Art Gallery Visual Art Studios in Mbare, however, warned other artists to avoid working for or with art dealers.
To the painters in search of a quick buck, he had harsh words against looking at the financial gains before mastering the basic requirements of the trade.
Many Zimbabwean artists in South Africa have lost their dignity struggling to earn a living in the overcrowded city, he warns.
These Zimbabwean artists end up being exploited by other people because they are desperate. The exploiters get richer and richer because they have got you in their hands. Its a disease that is incurable, he said.
When I am painting for money, I lack something…in the end you dont know yourself any more.
Kaizali emigrated to South Africa last year, but soon discovered things werent as rosy as he expected.
After staying in a flat for only one month, the artist moved to the famous reception block for poor Zimbabweans the Central Methodist Church. There, he met a pastor who brought him to the Metropolitan Evangelical Services (MES) welfare department where he got the position to train people in art.
The students are carefully selected street people who can benefit from occupation and therapy to help them lead normal lives.
Kaizali has now been appointed project manager for the churchs 2010 art plan.
As for his own art, he says a solo exhibition in Johannesburg is on the cards. His theme will be the general suffering of Zimbabweans crossing the Limpopo into
South Africa. Xenophobia will also be featured, he reveals
Post published in: Arts