TENDAI MUPITA FRACTALITIES

Transcription

1 TENDAI MUPITA FRACTALITIES

2 TENDAI MUPITA - FRACTALITIES Scientific process historically is often divorced from traditional knowledge and cultural practices. Yet scientific discoveries have consistently confirmed the wisdom of our ancestors and the sophistication practices deemed primitive. Viewed as a cultural process then, scientific research can be studied as a means of redressing damage caused by racially biased views of traditional cultures around the world, which has supported colonialisation and suppression of ancient learning and which continues to affect views of traditional practices in some post-colonial cultures. This process of decolonising science, culture and learning is difficult but most important for survival of humanity as much as anything else because some of these ancient practices may hold the key to understanding nature and our place in it. Among some of the most interesting developments in understanding African ancient scientific achievements has been the discovery of the extensive traditional use of fractals in most cultures across the continent. Fractals, a mathematical concept in which similar patterns recur at progressively smaller scales, and which is used in describing partly random or chaotic phenomena such as crystal growth, snowflakes and galaxy formation as well as supporting developments in modern computing. Interestingly fractals are a distinctive unique feature of designs in many African cultures utilised in everything from village planning to basket weaving, producing an infinite variety of non-repeating yet regular designs. This is a totally different paradigm to that of other cultures, most of which utilise simple symmetry in their patterns and designs. Several years ago, Mupita began exploring the idea of fractals and the idea of scaling patterns as both important aesthetically but also spiritually to his idea of being a contemporary African and Zimbabwean. The works in Fractalities emerge from a place of deep regard for the mystical and spiritual origin of patterns, as the source of traditional knowledge, with a consciousness of it implicit and explicit relevance to contemporary life. This earnest immersion in tradition, created a body of work replete with seductive endless complexity, which is unapologetically delightful, enticing and sophisticated. Fractality speaks to and reminds us of the very necessary and important synergies between the contemporary and the traditional and the joy they can bring, if we are open to it. Valerie Kabov Curator

3 TENDAI MUPITA Born: 1990, Harare, Zimbabwe Lives and works in Harare, Zimbabwe Education: 2015 Bachelor Chinhoyi University of Technology, Fine Arts In addition to his degree studies, Mupita, trained with leading master printmakers in Johannesburg, such as David Krut and Artist Proof Studio, where he worked as an assistant to a resident artist Senzo Shabangu, Godfried Donkor, Marina Walsh and Endale Desalegn. He acquired extensive skills in etching, mototypes, linocutting and colliography as well as numerous other techniques. As a result, work with and on paper as well as printmaking have been a dominant feature of Mupita s practice and its evolution for the past several years. In 2014 Mupita began researching fractals and in particular their relationship to both nature and African traditional cultural practices from basketweaving to architecture and found a rich thematic field, which created a wealth of synergies with his interest in working with paper-based techniques. In 2016 Mupita was awarded a residency with The Bag Factory in Johannesburg. Mupita is represented by First Floor Gallery Harare. Fractality 1, cm x 76cm

4 Fractality 2, cm x 76cm Fractality 3, cm x 76cm

5 Fractality 4, cm x 50cm Fractality 5, cm x 50cm

6 Fractality 6, cm x 76cm

7 Fractality 7, cm x 35cm Fractality 8, cm x 35cm

8 Fractality 9, cm x 44cm Fractality 10, cm x 26cm

9 Fractality 11-13, cm x 28cm(each)

10 Fractality 14, cm x 33cm Fractality 15, cm x 35cm

11 Fractality 16, cm x 114cm

12 Fractality 17, cm x 37cm

13 31 Lyric Heights 149 Samora Machel Harare Zimbabwe firstfloorgalleryharare 2016