Inuit and Shona cultural encounter
The Canadian Embassy in Harare, in collaboration with ZimArt, a Canadian art gallery, and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, hosted a successful cultural exchange between Canada's Inuit and Zimbabwe's Shona art movements. The event brought together two world-renowned stone carving artists, David Ruben Piqtoukun from Canada and Eddie Masaya from Zimbabwe.
Activities during the four-day event included a stone-carving demonstration, a Shona sculpture exhibition, a lecture on Inuit art and David's personal work, as well as a fund-raising reception for children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS.
For David and Eddie, as well as other local sculptors, it was an opportunity to experience new carving techniques, exchange views on art, and learn from each other's culture. The exchange was no doubt an enriching encounter for both the artists and the public. The encounter brought out the parallels between Zimbabwe's Shona and Canada's Inuit cultures, such as the spiritual linkage to the art form of sculpture, the essentiality of nature, and the centrality of family values. As Eddie remarked on meeting David: "We are like two brothers who haven't met for generations, finding each other."
"By showcasing Canada's cultural diversity and promoting tolerance and inclusiveness in the context of the International Day of Tolerance (November 16th), the event provided an opportunity to reiterate Canada's commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS," said Canada's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Roxanne Dubé.
According to the UNAIDS, Zimbabwe has an estimated 1.1 million children that have been orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS. This situation prompted Ambassador Dubé, to host a fund-raising reception during which the sculptures that had been on exhibit were sold through a silent auction. More than 3 million ZWD was raised through the fundraiser.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit three grass-root organisations that are looking after orphans and vulnerable children, most of whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS: Chiedza Community-based Orphan Welfare Organisation in Juliasdale; St. Marcellin Children's Village in Harare; and Nyachuru Secondary School AIDS Club in Howard. The funding raised will enable recipient organizations to provide better services to HIV/AIDS orphans.
The response to both the exhibition and accompanying events was excellent and attracted diverse audiences, including government representatives, academics, students, artists, media, business executives, the diplomatic community and the general public.
The Canadian Embassy's involvement in this cultural exchange, associated to the fight against HIV/AIDS, reinforces Canada's commitment to the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
David Ruben Piqtoukun and Eddie Masaya with journalists at the press conference
some of the sculptures on exhibition
the bidding process during the silent auction
work on the joint sculpture begins
Ambassador Roxanne Dubé interacts with guests and artists during the fundraising reception
David Ruben Piqtoukun and Eddie Masaya
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