VISUAL artist Tafadzwa Tom’s artwork challenges laziness and encourages people to work instead of using unethical means to obtain riches.
Tom told NewsDay Life & Style that art is a powerful tool for communication which he uses to reach out to people with a message of work hard.
He said his artworks reflected beliefs in the imaginary world, which he depicts by using head and leg attached figures as a metaphor to represent laziness.
“Visual art is necessary for communication purposes, especially putting into consideration people with hearing impairments and those who cannot speak. Imagine what life would have been without visual communication, such as road signs,” he said.
Tom’s art centres more on things which encourage people not to be lazy.
One of his pieces Endurance, was exhibited at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe and won first prize at the Morgan & Co Artspiration’s art competitions.
The piece was inspired by claims that went viral on social media platforms in 2022 about some people selling their toes for riches.
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“I made this piece (Endurance) to encourage people to work instead of taking shortcuts to accumulate wealth. When people put an effort into the work, they can be able to see brighter results just like the saying that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
Tom noted that art reflects his personal experiences as he confesses to having been lazy and a procrastinator at some point before he decided to step out of his comfort zone.
Through art, Tom claims to have achieved a lot apart from prizes and awards, adding that art had been another way of anxiety and stress relief.
He is a product of the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Designs, 2017 class. His artworks include Retainer, Bizarre and Bereaved Filaments, which were inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.
