The haunted artist.
A people's conscience.
By Nyadzombe Nyampenza
An artist’s process can be a very interesting aspect of their work. Visual artist Evans Mutenga uses several layers to accomplish his goal. The outcome often takes him by surprise. Colorism Campaign one of his recent works, turned out far from the artists’ original expectations.
Mutenga professes to have named the piece after downing his tools. He does not believe that a work of art is ever truly completed. His technique involves creating multiple layers to create depth. Beginning with a drawing, or print, he follows up with pasting, to end up peeling bits and pieces off the surface. Because of layers covering the image, the artist would not be certain of the positioning of relevant features. He cannot have complete control over the result. Mutenga believes the process must be allowed to determine its own course..
Colorism Campaign is an ironically uncolorful work, made from paper on canvas. An apparition is visible behind the richly textured surface. According to Evans, the starting point of this work was a male figure with a saintly halo. It was inspired by religious iconography, influenced by the artists’ Catholic upbringing. Due to flecking the crimson colored halo looks like a woman’s hair. Arched eyebrows add to the apparitions’ illusion of femininity. People began to suggest that it was a woman. When he could no longer unsee her, Evans allowed the piece to manifest its own character.
Feminist writer Alice Walker is credited with coining the word ‘Colorism’. It is defined as prejudice in favor of lighter skin. It can be a conscious, or unconscious bias. This is why men and women in Zimbabwe resort to bleaching their skin. It is supposed to make them beautiful, popular, and successful. The streets of Harare are awash with unlicensed skin lightening products. Vendors advertise banned creams, pills, soap, and injections on social media.
Evans Mutengas’ piece is not against the irrevocable freedom of choice for people who choose to bleach their skin. It empathizes with the psychological trauma of those who embrace such erosive practices. It is also a dire warning on potentially corrosive side effects.
