Artist Campus

With Vera Chisvo

 

Our last session in the Artist Campus series saw Vera Chisvo discuss Artivism: the use of art for critical change.

 

ABOUT THE SESSION.

 

In this session, Vera shared on the political history of Zimbabwe as a backdrop to the cultural and artistic movements birthed as protest against attacks on freedom of speech.

We asked ourselves: what is the role of art, Artivism, and self-expression in this context?

 

 

 

“When you put yourself out there, you are always open to attack.”

- Vera Chisvo

 

 

SESSION INSIGHTS.

The Grey Area - How some artists have managed the high risks of Artivism:

Get backed by international NGOs, embassies fame and popularity.

Know the laws.

Get support from human rights lawyers.

Have an exit strategy.

Be even bolder that they are too afraid to touch you.

 

 

Creative Documentation

#ArtbyJaeTallawah

 

“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilisations heal.”

- Toni Morrison

@Twitter | Incubator ZW |  Her Hour Podcast 

About the Artist

Vera is a Zimbabwean-based funky jazz vocalist and guitarist. As a proud activist and philanthropist, she recently founded a creative hub in Harare, Zimbabwe, the Incubator ZW: a virtual hub that aims at inspiring and motivating creatives to reach their full potential.

The hub has three main focus areas: working with creatives with disabilities; creating opportunities for creatives in marginalised areas; and promoting the use of art as a form of activism.

Incubator ZW also hosts a bi-monthly podcast and video blog called ‘Her Hour’ that promotes freedom of speech among young Zimbabweans around issues that affect them in their everyday lives.

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About the Series:

Artist Campus

In our Artist Campus series, artists from across the world share big ideas and reflections on matters of interest to their practice.