LONDON Rudo Chakanyuka, a 24-year-old Zimbabwean artist, recently had her work showcased at an art exhibition at the House of Commons in Westminster, England. (Pictured: Rudo Chakanyuka, Zimbabwean artist extraordinaire)
The sprightly former prefect from Dominican Convent High School in Harare said she fell in love with drawing when she was only four years old. She drew to pass the long lonely hours in a house where, for most of her life, she was the only child. She attended St. Martin’s primary school and continued her education at Dominican Convent. There, she says, is where she made up her mind to become an artist. I decided that I wanted to become an artist when I had to choose my O and A Level subjects. It was a difficult decision to make because her father was hoping that she would become a doctor. I had to present my case very well with all the facts, and in the end, my parents supported me. Rudo says.
Her older brother and sisters still had their reservations, though. When I told them, they just said, ‘what’s this all about?’ They didn’t think it was a real career, more like a hobby. However, Rudo stuck to her guns and now, she is working at the Book Caf in Harare, as the Entertainment Manager. The high point of Rudo’s artistic career was having her work shown at the House of Commons in December last year (2009). The exhibition, entitled Creativity and Crisis, lasted for a week and featured her work and that of other artists.
She explains that the exhibition was based on the time when there was a lot of negative press on Zimbabwe. The exhibition was aimed at showing the world the other side of Zimbabwean life. The opening was well attended. She hopes that those who visited the exhibition got a clearer and more accurate picture of Zimbabwe, and the strength and resilience of its people.
Post published in: Arts