room for humour

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The platform for contemporary African art shows that beyond Ethnographic studies on the "Black Continent" exists a lively arts scene that deserves attention. ZAK’s owner Bernd Kleine-Gunk whose main job is head of the department of gynaecology at the Euro-med clinic knows best how we Europeans like to see the "third world" country only in the context of development aid. During his time as a development worker in the 80s the physician became an expert in serious African art, which he sets against its woodo and Christmas bazaar image.

Since its founding in 1960 the Tengenenge sculpture community has produced remarkable artists – first of all the late Henry Munyaradzi, whose trademark was sparingly stylised faces. Bernard Matemera is another one of the great artists. In 1992 he was represented at the Expo in Seville and has already been provided with the somewhat helpless label "Neo-African Expressionist". His hybrid creatures are dominated by oversized eyes. Fanizani Akuda is also a master in the handling of hard Serpentine stone, which is usually in the final stages, polished and waxed so that the black, green or brown surface in its perfection increases the compact nature of the work. His creatures are humorous, casually whistling away to themselves as does their creator.