DRIVEN by his love for nature, Victoria Falls-based visual artist Takudzwa Nhananga has embarked on a journey to boost his knowledge on wildlife with intent to bring ecological restoration through art that is relatable, valuable and educative to society.
In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style, Nhananga said he closely worked with wildlife experts and enterprises to help him convey accurate messages in his artworks.
“I am a versatile artist, but I specialise in wildlife. I always try to convey different messages when I paint. I want to learn more about wildlife, the functioning of the ecosystem as a whole, as well as how to protect, conserve and restore it,” he noted.
“To accomplish these wildlife businesses, I will make the best allies. I am of the idea that working closely with these experts will enhance my knowledge about wildlife. l hope l will be able to create more art that people can relate to.
“I also think working with experts in this field will definitely enable me to correctly convey my message which will raise the quality of my artwork.”
Nhananga said wildlife was crucial in establishing a thriving tourism sector in the country.
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“I love nature so much, particularly landscapes, rivers and wildlife. I could offer so many reasons why l have wildlife and nature at heart, but I will stick to a few that are difficult to miss. We gain economically from the tourism that our wildlife generates,” he said.
“I believe l can contribute to the ecosystem by raising awareness on the value of animals in the community through my artistic talent. People prefer to purchase art that they can relate to and which they believe to be educational for both present and future generations. I will, therefore, gain financially and so will my society.”
Nhananga, who has exhibited his work in both local and international spaces, wishes to share knowledge acquired throughout the years with the younger generation.
Expressing his eagerness to introduce art and nature discussion events that will benefit fellow community members back in his village, he added: “I wish to share my knowledge and create opportunities for other artists in my village. I want to get into ecological restoration. When I was growing up, older people in my village always spoke about how the streams in our village had lots of water that could last until summer or year-round. I saw part of it, but now there is no sign of that. ”
Nhananga has exhibited his artworks at Wildgeese Art Festival (2018), the National Exhibition of Animal Artists in France (2018 to 2021) and Jacaranda Art Fair in 2022.
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