(7/11/2024 - 22/02/2025)
"Masks of Modernity"
"Masks of Modernity" emerges as a bold and introspective exploration of contemporary
African identity, interwoven through the visionary lens of Samurai Farai. This exhibition
traverses the complexities of hybridisation and cultural legacy, presenting itself as an
intimate dialogue between the artist, his audience, and his dual heritage—both
Zimbabwean and Afrikaans. The works act as a profound "open letter," examining the
nuanced ways in which African identity navigates, challenges, and redefines itself in the
global context of modernity.
With a deliberate homage to ancestral ties and a heartfelt celebration of hybridity, Farai
bridges the ancient and the modern by channeling inspiration from historical African
civilizations such as Great Zimbabwe and Ancient Egypt. His sculptures, crafted from
Zimbabwean stone in reverence to the Shona’s masterful sculpting traditions, breathe life
into his paintings’ characters, embodying them in three-dimensional form. Each piece
stands as a testament to the belief that spirit resides within form, awaiting revelation—a
belief echoed in the artist’s own journey toward self-identity. Through this interplay of twodimensional
and three-dimensional mediums, Farai grants his audience the profound
intimacy of witnessing these personas come alive, unmasking layers of both the artist and
the viewer in their quiet strength and vibrant presence.
The exhibition becomes an odyssey in unpacking "Africanness," as Farai proposes a
reimagining of African identity—a new way of seeing and being. It is an invitation to
explore identity through a framework that transcends boundaries, one which speaks
directly to both an African and a universal experience. By embracing multiple media and
dimensions, Farai underscores the inherent fluidity of creativity and identity, reflecting his
belief that storytelling is most potent when expressed across diverse forms. This versatility
mirrors his own synthesis of various influences, embodying the composite nature of
modern African identity.
Masks of Modernity seeks not only to reconcile past and present but also to project a
future where African stories are contextualised in their richness and complexity,
unfettered by convention. In doing so, Farai's work defies the “traditional” expectations
placed upon African artists, asserting a courageous and vulnerable vision of the African
self—one that is both deeply personal and widely resonant. His work invites us into a
space where culture, past and present, makes way for narratives forged in the crucible of
African modernity. Through this remarkable body of work, Farai offers an inspiring
testament to resilience, an unflinching vulnerability, and a transformative bravery that
beckons viewers to confront and celebrate the multifaceted stories that shape the African
identity today.
Masks of Modernity
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