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until 05.03. | #3311ARTatBerlin | ARTCO Galerie Berlin presents OBSERVER & COMMENTATOR as the first exhibition in the new year with works by the painters Kufa Makwavarara + Richard Mudariki.
ARTCO Galerie Berlin’s first exhibition of the new year is dedicated to two painters whose artistic work describes the social, political and societal conditions in South-East African Zimbabwe. On display are current works by Richard Mudariki and Kufa Makwavarara.
Richard Mudariki, THE PUPPETEER, 2017, Oil on canvas, 150 x 300 cm, Series: Paintings
Richard Mudariki was born in Zimbabwe in 1985 and studied painting with Allen Kupeta in Chitungwiza a few kilometres from Harare. His artistic talent was discovered early by Derek Huggins (1940-2021) and promoted by the Delta Gallery.
Richard Mudariki, UNDERGROUND, 2015, Oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm, Series: paintings
His powerful paintings, inspired by modernism, satirically and mockingly criticise undesirable developments in the political and social conditions in his home country Zimbabwe and in his adopted country South Africa.
Richard Mudariki, MANY WOMAN IMMIGRANTS WORKED AS DOMESTIC WORKERS, 2021
Oil on canvas (work 4), 52 cm x 54 cm, Series: THE GREAT BANTU MIGRATION
Mudariki’s works were a central element of the exhibition FIVE BHOBH – PAINTING AT THE END OF AN ERA at the Zeitz MOCCA Museum in Cape Town. This show of works was recognised as the best exhibition of 2019 by HYPERALLERGIC, among others. The artist lives and works in Cape Town.
Kufa Makwavarara, COMBATTING THE RED TAIL DRAGON, 2020, Oil on canvas, 160 x 160 cm
Kufa Makwavarara was born in 1983 in Harare, Zimbabwe. He began drawing at school age, whereupon his teachers encouraged him to dedicate himself to art. In 1999, he won first place in the UNESCO ASSOCIATED SCHOOLS PROJECT NETWORK. Kufa then studied at the National Gallery School of Visual Art and Design in Harare. In 2000, the young artist exhibited for the first time at Gallery Delta. This was followed by another exhibition at the Zimbabwe National Art Gallery, whose permanent collection includes two of his paintings.
Kufa Makwavarara, PROPAGANDA RADIO, 2021, Oil on canvas, 100 x 150 cm
Kufa Makwavarara is an attentive observer of his environment. Although the artist has lived in Cape Town for many years, his mostly large-format expressive paintings focus on the political and social conditions in his native Zimbabwe.
Kufa Makwavarara, SOCIAL CORRUPTION, 2021, Oil on canvas, 170 x 200 cm
Where he comments on grievances, injustices and political aberrations with canvas and brush, he does so in all clarity, but never without irony and humour. Makwavarara’s works were also part of the FIVE BHOBE exhibition at Zeitz MOCCA between September 2018 and May 2019.
Exhibition dates: Friday, 21 January – Saturday, 5 March 2022
To the Gallery
Exhibition Richard Mudariki + Kufa Makwavarara – ARTCO Galerie Berlin | Zeitgenössische Kunst in Berlin | Contemporary Art | Exhibitions Berlin Galleries | ART at Berlin
