ZAMBIAN ART

ZAMBIAN ART

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1 .While the world is looking in another direction art flourishes in the country on a shoestring. The desire of artists in Zambia to create is so strong that they will use anything. From burlap sacks to car paint, even old bed sheets are often used in the place of canvases as the materials for art. Garbage and detritus are turned in works of art that are often staggering in their scope. The tradition of fine art, in the Western concept of the term, in Zambia goes back to colonial times and has been steadily growing

The history of Zambia contemporary art spans a period of fifty years from Independence in 1964 to the present. The earliest paintings in this country at that time were generally executed by settlers of British origin. And the first African painters originated from the war-torn Congo in the late ‘50s settling in Kitwe and Ndola. These Congolese painters, such as Dongala and Master Diouf were also skilled craftsmen, producing various items ranging from copperware to wooden and copper crafts. And most of the crafts and paintings produced by these artists were sold at strategic points along the main road. In those days Zambian artists exhibited their artworks in council libraries and other public and private spaces. The Zambian artists breathed a sigh of relief when Mpapa Gallery opened. It was the first commercial gallery in the whole country situated in ChaChaCha Road in central Lusaka.
2 .The history of Zambia contemporary art spans a period of fifty years from Independence in 1964 to the present. The earliest paintings in this country at that time were generally executed by settlers of British origin. And the first African painters originated from the war-torn Congo in the late ‘50s settling in Kitwe and Ndola. These Congolese painters, such as Dongala and Master Diouf were also skilled craftsmen, producing various items ranging from copperware to wooden and copper crafts. And most of the crafts and paintings produced by these artists were sold at strategic points along the main road. In those days Zambian artists exhibited their artworks in council libraries and other public and private spaces. The Zambian artists breathed a sigh of relief when Mpapa Gallery opened. It was the first commercial gallery in the whole country situated in ChaChaCha Road in central Lusaka.
3 .Later, The Lechwe Trust was founded by Cynthia Zukas. In 1986, she decided to support artists more substantially, and the Lechwe Trust was born. Their aim was to provide bursaries for artists who wished to study formally or attend art workshops and residencies. In addition, they decided to start a collection, ensuring an art legacy for Zambia. The collection houses works predominantly by Zambians, however there are works by those who have lived in Zambia or have a connection with the country. Now numbering over 200 pieces of art from paintings to sculpture, from etchings to sketches the legacy is one of which Zambians should be proud, and yet few know of its existence .Artists in Zambia are faced with particular, though assuredly not unique, challenges. Even today, materials such as oil paints, brushes, canvas still have to be imported from South Africa and this makes them prohibitively expensive. A lack of public library facilities and subject specific magazines means artists are deprived of learning from more established artists or feeling part of a wider international community. There is a more abstract and perhaps rarely articulated motivation also, a pride and desire to depict and explore Zambia using the visual medium. Through their work, Zambian artists exude a dignity and an understanding of the good and bad of their society. They question, they examine and sometimes judge; the conversation shows no signs of abating. Artists here just love art, they thirst after it and it is a crucial contribution to their sense of identity, their sense of purpose. Zambia’s history is full of talent and characters even if their exploits and accomplishments are not always well documented.
Two paintings from artists of two different generations: Henry Tayali (1943–1987) on the left and living artist Stary Mwaba on the right

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