Admire Kamudzengerere is one of the growing amount of African residents of the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam, 2012-2013.
Blue Face.
About:
Admire Kamudzengerere (1981) interrogates contemporary political economic and societal issues, often concerning cultural identity and social hierarchies. His paintings, prints, videos and installations are vehicles through which he makes these realities tangible, and function as a mirror that we look into to get a deeper understanding of human behaviour. His works form a chessboard on which he positions the present in relation to repeating histories and mythologies.
En Passant, 2013.
(2013, report from a trip back to his country):
During the mini-residency in Zimbabwe Aditya, Kate and I do performances and show video installations in our own set up Lizzard Lounge in the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Besides, there will be presentations and discussions on the importance of art. Artists and people from different countries and backgrounds will meet and discuss, and raise issues together. The idea of this project came up during our stay at the Rijksakademie. It is a collaboration between us and it is based upon discussions. he opening of the festival takes place on Queensday April 30. It is our contribution to this festive day of the Netherlands. Therefore, the ambassador of the Netherlands in Zimbabwe comes specially to open the event.
It will be the first time I go back to Zimbabwe since my stay at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. I think it’s good to go back to Zimbabwe, because I have a new vision of art. Now I’m in the second year of my residency program at the Rijksakademie, I can renew myself in Zimbabwe with some fresh ideas. I have no clear expectations of my visit, but I want announce on the same day of the opening of the festival, that I’m working on setting up a residency in Zimbabwe. I am still developing the concept and working on it. That’s why I engage different people to ask them for help. Nevertheless I already know the name of the residency. I want to call it Traffic. This refers literally to the problems of traffic in Zimbabwe, but figuratively to the situation that everyone is traveling to a particular destination which may be known or unknown. During my stay in Zimbabwe I want to develop my plans more. Eventually I hope to launch a residency open for all artists around the world.
The Man in Me.
Installation (detail), 2013.
