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Wycliffe Mundopa Brings the Spirit of Mbare to Los Angeles with 'Mbare Opera'.

by artweb

Wycliffe Mundopa, 2018: Theatre of the Abbatoir Pt 1, Oil, fabric collage, spray paint on canvas
Wycliffe Mundopa, 2018: Theatre of the Abbatoir Pt 1, Oil, fabric collage, spray paint on canvas

As Los Angeles grapples with the aftermath of devastating wildfires - scorching over 50,000 acres and destroying more than 16,000 structures since January 7, 2025 - the city’s art scene remains a beacon of resilience. Amid this backdrop, award-winning Zimbabwean contemporary artist Wycliffe Mundopa presents Mbare Opera, a compelling solo exhibition at Southern Guild Los Angeles, set to close in a few days on 1 February 2025.


Born in 1987 in Rusape, Zimbabwe, Mundopa has been dedicated to painting since the age of 15. An alumnus of the National Gallery Zimbabwe Visual Arts Studios in Mbare, Harare, he has developed a signature style characterized by expressive brushwork, audacious color palettes, and socially charged narratives. His work is deeply rooted in Zimbabwean society, particularly in the resilience of women and children navigating the urban landscape of Harare. Mundopa amplifies the voices of those often overlooked - sex workers, street vendors, and single mothers - rendering them in grand, theatrical compositions brimming with movement and emotion. His work has drawn comparisons to historical painters such as Egon Schiele, yet it remains distinctly Zimbabwean in its storytelling.



The exhibition’s title, Mbare Opera, is a striking nod to one of Harare’s oldest and most vibrant suburbs. Mbare is Harare’s oldest and most vibrant suburbs, is a melting pot of culture, commerce, and history. Established during the colonial era as a segregated township, Mbare has since evolved into a hub of informal trade and artistic expression. It is home to Mbare Musika, Zimbabwe’s largest marketplace, and Mupedzanhamo, a bustling flea market known for second-hand clothes and handmade goods. The suburb’s densely populated Matapi Flats, often cited for their tough living conditions, have also fostered a community rich in resourcefulness and artistic expression. Despite economic hardships, Mbare pulses with an entrepreneurial spirit. Musicians, poets, and visual artists have emerged from its streets, using their craft to articulate the experiences of Zimbabwe’s working class. It is this dynamic intersection of struggle and vitality that Mundopa captures in Mbare Opera.

Wycliffe Mundopa, 2024: Sink or Swim, Oil, spray paint on canvas
Wycliffe Mundopa, 2024: Sink or Swim, Oil, spray paint on canvas

Mbare Opera brings together major works from Mundopa’s recent years, showcasing his audacious and unapologetic style. His large canvases burst with strong colours and dynamic compositions, depicting ensembles of women and children adorned in carnivalesque attire. The juxtaposition of festivity with the stark realities of urban Zimbabwe encapsulates the resilience and vulnerability of his subjects. One of the defining elements of Mundopa’s work is his use of symbolic animal imagery - crocodiles, frogs, fish, and dogs - that serve as manifestations of colloquial expressions from Mbare’s streets. In a recent interview, Mundopa explained that these motifs encode grassroots critiques of broader societal issues. “In Zimbabwe, we use animals to explain things that are difficult to say directly. The crocodile, for example, represents power and survival. The dog can symbolize loyalty, but also desperation,” he once shared.


Mundopa depict sex workers, a recurring subject in his oeuvre. “They are part of our community, but people pretend they don’t exist. These women are mothers, daughters, and providers. Their stories deserve to be told with dignity and boldness,” he notes. His paintings, rather than moralizing, invite viewers to engage with the humanity of his subjects beyond the labels society imposes on them.


Wycliffe Mundopa
Better the Devil You Know, 2022

Oil, spray paint on canvas
Wycliffe Mundopa: 2022, Better the Devil You Know, Oil, spray paint on canvas

Mundopa’s international acclaim has been on the rise, with exhibitions across Africa, Europe, and the United States. He was awarded the National Merit Award in 2007 (Zimbabwe) and the FNB Art Prize in 2021 (South Africa), acknowleding his status in the contemporary art world. The exhibition Mbare Opera follows his successful solo exhibition at Southern Guild in Cape Town titled Pachipamwe in 2023, marking his continued collaboration with the gallery alongside First Floor Gallery.


For Mundopa, Mbare Opera is more than just an exhibition; it is a statement of defiance and celebration. “Art allows us to rewrite our own stories. For too long, the world has seen Zimbabwe through a single lens of crisis. But here, I am saying, ‘Look again. There is life, there is music, there is survival. There is art,’” he affirmed.


In a city recently marred by natural disaster, Mundopa’s exhibition offers a poignant exploration of resilience, community, and the complexities of urban life. Whether in Harare or Los Angeles, Mundopa’s paintings remind us that amid hardship, creativity thrives, and stories continue to be told.


AW

1 Comment


Such potent painting, graphic storytelling by @Wycliffe Mundopa at @southern Guild LA thank you for shining the Mbare light to Los Angeles, hopefully uplifting for their community at this sad aftermath of resurrecting themselves after fire...

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