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Portia Zvavahera Solo Exhibition 'Imba Yerumbidzo' Opens at Foundation Louis Vuitton.

by artweb

Portia Zvavahera's new painting titled Imba Yerumbidzo (House of Praise), comprising eight canvases and spanning nearly 17 meters in length, is a monumental work forming a sweeping panorama that curves along the walls of Gallery 8 at Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris

Today, October 17, 2024, the Louis Vuitton Foundation will open Portia Zvavahera's solo exhibition titled Imba Yerumbidzo (House of Praise) as part of its Open Space series. Zvavahera (b.1985) is one of Zimbabwe's most distingusihed contemporary artist. For her first ever solo show in France, she has crafted a monumental 17-meter-long polyptych that reflects her deeply personal connection to dreams, spirituality and her Shona culture. The exhibition, running until March 3, 2025, offers a profound journey into Zvavahera’s inner world, where dreams and emotions take center stage.


Zvavahera’s artistic journey started in childhood when she expressed a natural talent for drawing. What initially seemed like a simple pastime during her primary school years blossomed into a full-fledged career after she trained at the BAT Visual Art Studios at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe and later earned a Fine Art diploma from Harare Polytechnic. Over time, art became her calling, with painting emerging as her preferred medium—a choice she describes as organic, as though it “chose her.”


A defining aspect of Zvavahera’s work is her connection to dreams. Raised by a mother and grandmother who believed that dreams held prophetic power, she learned from a young age to focus on her dreamworld. She carries this tradition into her art, where dreams are not merely sources of inspiration but deeply intertwined with her spiritual beliefs. To Zvavahera, dreams serve as a direct line of communication with God, guiding her through life’s complexities. The ethereal figures in her paintings, often ghostly white silhouettes, symbolize the protective and prophetic presences she encounters in her dreams.


The centerpiece of the exhibition is Imba Yerumbidzo, a large-scale painting that draws from a personal and intense dream she had shortly after arriving in France. In this dream, Zvavahera saw angels dressed in white garments, following her during a period of illness and emotional distress. The artwork captures the essence of that moment, translating it into a large polyptych that surrounds the viewer with its haunting presence. The figures in white, left in reserve on the canvas, convey a sense of protection, acting as silent but powerful forces. Zvavahera chose to work on an unprecedented scale for this exhibition, reflecting the overwhelming impact of the dream. She envisioned Imba Yerumbidzo as a space of worship and praise, where people express gratitude for divine protection and guidance. The title in Shona speaks to the sacred nature of this dreamscape - a place where angels are ever-present, offering solace and security.


While Imba Yerumbidzo is dominated by shades of carmine and purple-brown, Zvavahera’s use of color is intuitive rather than premeditated. She draws on the natural world, especially her garden, to inspire her palette. In this way, the colors and materials become a conduit for the emotions and spiritual energies she channels onto the canvas. Her technique blends painting with printmaking, wax-resist batik, and linocut - an eclectic combination that she has explored since her art school days.


Zvavahera’s process is as spiritual as the content of her work. She paints in silence, without music, in order to focus on her inner voice and the energy of her dreams. Painting, for her, is akin to prayer - a meditative practice where she communes with her deepest thoughts and emotions. The fluidity of her process means she often begins without knowing where a painting will lead, trusting her instincts to guide her to completion.


Her works are interconnected, forming a cohesive narrative that spans her entire career. Each painting builds on the last, often connected through recurring themes of womanhood, dreams and the body. As she moves from one series to another, a new theme emerges, yet the underlying thread of her life and experiences remains constant.


Portia Zvavahera’s Imba Yerumbidzo at the Louis Vuitton Foundation is not just an exhibition but a spiritual and emotional experience. Through her dreamlike compositions, she invites viewers into a sacred space of reflection, healing, and divine connection. Her work offers a powerful testament to the depth of human experience, where dreams and reality merge, and the invisible becomes visible. As Zvavahera continues to expand her artistic boundaries, embracing larger formats and more complex narratives, she remains true to the essence of her work - her profound connection to her inner world, her culture, and her faith.


Visit Louis Vuitton Foundation website for more information.

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