Renowned South African painter Richard Mudariki is set to host a pop-up studio exhibition from the 13th until the 23rd of February 2023. The exhibition promises to be an immersive experience, offering viewers the opportunity to engage with Mudariki’s thought-provoking paintings. The event will be held at the artist’s studio in Fairfield Estate, Cape Town, and viewing is by booking a time slot.
Mudariki was born in Zimbabwe in 1985 and studied under the mentorship of renowned painters Helen Lieros and Greg Shaw at Gallery Delta in Harare. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies. His work is known for its originality, modernity and its social commentary on various issues in Africa. Mudariki has participated in several major exhibitions in South Africa, Germany, London and Zimbabwe.
Gore ra2020 will feature Mudariki’s ambitious cycle of paintings which according to art critic Sean O’Toole highlights the importance of time. Richard Mudariki’s paintings and their architectural structure are deeply influenced by the concept of time. He uses the Gregorian calendar’s graphic format to depict his graphical statements on the unpredictable progress of the 2020 global health pandemic and the social inequalities it revealed.
The exhibition, although influenced by personal experiences, is not an intimate visual representation of the pandemic in the style of Edvard Munch’s 1919 self-portrait, where the artist depicts himself recovering from Spanish flu. Mudariki’s work is constructed in a way that looks back on the experience of the collective. Looking back is fitting for Mudariki, whose sardonic approach to narrative painting is characterized by a caustic, observational style akin to New Objectivity painters such as Otto Dix. This method is greatly influenced by Mudariki’s early academic training as an archaeologist, recognizing that history is a story built from fragmentary pieces. Mudariki’s approach is heavily influenced by his academic training as an archaeologist. He recognizes that history is composed of fragments that are pieced together to tell a story.
The exhibition promises to be a thought-provoking experience that will allow viewers to engage with Mudariki’s unique artistic style and his social commentary on various issues in Africa. For art enthusiasts and those with an interest in contemporary African art, the exhibition held at the artist’s studio in Fairfield Estate, Cape Town, is an unmissable event.
