Ronald Muchatuta’s solo exhibition ‘Kurarama – To Survive’ which is curated by Ruzy Rusike, was launched on 16 July and runs until 16 August 2020 at The Melrose Gallery.
Following on from Ronald’s well received exhibition at the Stellenbosch Triennale and it’s premature closure due to Covid-19, Ronald created this new body of works during the shut down in South Africa.
The impact of the pandemic on the global community and the way in which it forced mankind to slow down, to take a breath and to consider what is most important in our lives has had a marked affect on Ronald’s life and this body of work in particular.
‘Kurarama’ means ‘to survive’ and it is through survival that we find beauty in life and death. The Ying-yang philosophy reflects on how the end of life in one dimension can be seen as a fresh start in another. The circle of life. The burning of the veld before new vegetation sprouts – The land needs to breath, We need to breath. This body of work crosses points of our existence. The mark of existence comes in the forms of legacy, spirituality, youth, beauty, and cultural conditioning.
“Green, Orange, Brown. A smile a kiss. Joint shoes. A spectacle with sighting and vision. Shapes – forms within foresight. The Joy of Chaos. Happiness riding with thrill. Oh how I missed you colour,” said Ronald Muchatuta.
The exhibition consists of 21 new works that explore the range of techniques for which Ronald is swiftly developing a strong reputation and loyal following.
He uses collage, painting, illustration and marking to create works imbued and layered with texture and meaning.
Ronald was born in Zimbabwe, lives in Cape Town, and much of his work explores one of Zimbabwe’s largest social issues; life in the Diaspora.
His practice examines the effect of leaving one’s homeland physically, spiritually and psychologically. Migration, refugees, poverty and all forms of injustice are often portrayed in his artworks as Ronald uses his platform as a means of change and discourse in our contemporary context.
For Ronald, art is a means of communication and connection: an inherently social and political dialogue that is engaged by the creator and the viewer.
Art gives important context to our individual and collective lives. His work is fraught and harrowing – like a people’s collective nervous
breakdown translated onto a canvas.
Ronald works across different mediums including illustration, painting, collage and mosaics often combining different mediums and techniques that make his works relatable, tactile and evocative.
His works are almost melancholy in mood clearly portraying his longing for his homeland through the delicate, exquisite nature of his illustration and application of materials.
Ronald’s artworks grace numerous private, public and corporate collections including The Spier collection, Hollard, Board members of the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Nandos – fine art collection, US Senate offices and others based in Africa and abroad.
The exhibition will run from 16 July to 16 August 2020 and will be presented in The Melrose Gallery in Melrose Arch and online on a viewing room on www.themelrosegallery.com
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