Virginia Chihota: Whose Am I? I Am Not My Own (Ndiri Waani? Handisi Muridzi Wangu)
Past viewing_room
Virginia Chihota
Ndiri Mwana Wa.... (I am a child of ....), 2018
Serigraph on Linen Canvas
210 x 206 cm
82 5/8 x 81 1/8 in
82 5/8 x 81 1/8 in
VCH 156
Copyright of the artist
Ndiri Mwana Wa.... (I Am A Child Of....) series is the body of work that was conceived while questioning my position as I stand and see myself in different life...
Ndiri Mwana Wa.... (I Am A Child Of....) series is the body of work
that was conceived while questioning my position as I stand and see
myself in different life conditions how does that relate to where I am
coming from. I grew up in a setting where whoever is my fathers
brother big or small is my father so also my mothers side and we did
address them as Amai(Mother) or Baba(Father). Even when my father and
mother passed away I still had people around me to address to just as
I would my own parents who gave birth to me and the people around us
also continued to embrace and support us.
The series is putting together the elements that seem not to varnish
from my memories when I think of my childhood.My mother and Father
died before they had build their own place or kitchen at the family
compound in the country side yet there was one place that always
welcomed us.
The thatched ceiling that appears on the series is of one specific
kitchen which belongs to one of my mothers the wife of my (father's
brother)uncle as the world terms it. Her kitchen has always been the
embassy of the family. from marriage ceremonies to funerals ,a place
where important family issues were discussed, discipline taught ,
under the same ceiling my father and mother spend the night in this
house while people sang for them before burial the next day.
When I had my traditional marriage the same kitchen was used to
prepare food for the ceremony.
The same house has provided for us each time we enter we never leave
without food or a drink hence the presence of the cups symbolic (no
matter how many time we entered this kitchen we were always provided
for)
The human forms are confronting self after all the thoughts can I
clearly say whose child I am. Though the world acknowledges your
biological parents but I believe there is more to whose child we all
are.
that was conceived while questioning my position as I stand and see
myself in different life conditions how does that relate to where I am
coming from. I grew up in a setting where whoever is my fathers
brother big or small is my father so also my mothers side and we did
address them as Amai(Mother) or Baba(Father). Even when my father and
mother passed away I still had people around me to address to just as
I would my own parents who gave birth to me and the people around us
also continued to embrace and support us.
The series is putting together the elements that seem not to varnish
from my memories when I think of my childhood.My mother and Father
died before they had build their own place or kitchen at the family
compound in the country side yet there was one place that always
welcomed us.
The thatched ceiling that appears on the series is of one specific
kitchen which belongs to one of my mothers the wife of my (father's
brother)uncle as the world terms it. Her kitchen has always been the
embassy of the family. from marriage ceremonies to funerals ,a place
where important family issues were discussed, discipline taught ,
under the same ceiling my father and mother spend the night in this
house while people sang for them before burial the next day.
When I had my traditional marriage the same kitchen was used to
prepare food for the ceremony.
The same house has provided for us each time we enter we never leave
without food or a drink hence the presence of the cups symbolic (no
matter how many time we entered this kitchen we were always provided
for)
The human forms are confronting self after all the thoughts can I
clearly say whose child I am. Though the world acknowledges your
biological parents but I believe there is more to whose child we all
are.
Exhibitions
2019Uri Mwana Wani? (Whose Child Are you?), National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare