Portia Zvavahera

Commissioned by the National Gallery of Zimbabwe for the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013

Acquired from the above by the current owner

Venice, Zimbabwe Pavilion, 55th Venice Biennale, Dudziro: Interrogating the Visions of Religious Beliefs, 1 June-24 November 2013

Portia Zvavahera has garnered a stellar reputation in the contemporary art world for her distinctive compositions and striking motifs. Born in Zimbabwe in 1985, Zvavahera's work draws deeply from her cultural roots and personal journey, creating a body of work that contends with universal themes such as life and death.

Executed in 2021, the present lot is a sublime example of Zvavahera's distinctive style and thematic exploration. Zvavahera's technique combines mixed media like ink, wax and oil paint, a fusion that adds layers of depth to her work, both in terms of visual complexity and emotional resonance.

The central figure in the present lot is an ethereal presence, seemingly suspended in an otherworldly dreamscape. The face is rendered with an expressive intensity that is characteristic of Zvavahera's portraiture. The intricate details and patterns that adorn the figure garment evoke patterns reminiscent of textiles and weaving traditions found throughout Africa. The sheet pulsates with hues of blues, purples, and deep reds, creating a visceral and emotional experience for the viewer. The interplay of light and shadow adds to the disorientation of the composition, lending the work an almost mystical quality.

Portia Zvavahera's oeuvre is a testament to the power of art to be simultaneously subjective and objective, at once personal and universal. The present lot offers a window into the creative identity of Zvavahera and with it an opportunity to engage with the profound themes that define her practice.