‘Body viewing.’
Confronting the male gaze.
By Nyadzombe Nyampenza
If nobody gets to see Mavis Tauzeni wearing a miniskirt and stilettoes it will be her choice. A recent work by the artist infers that it is out of freedom not constraint. The liberty to do so is something she boldly champions in her artwork.
A title to one of Tauzeni’s latest paintings is the fierce feminine retort, ‘Zvashamisa!?’ The sharp word is usually hurled at the man with a roving eye who is caught looking at another woman by his partner. It can also be fired by a woman being stared at by men— miffed by the lewd attention. Literally the word asks “Is it surprising?”, but the mood is “What are you looking at?’’
The painting is a show stopping scene from the back. A woman’s body dressed in a red skirt and red bottom heels bends over to pick up something. The skirt rides on the hips exposing the back of her thighs in a risqué manner. Between her feet, her hands cradle a disembodied head with redemptive care. The head faces the viewer, wearing lipstick that matches her skirt.
The cut off head is unsettling. It shuts down the wolf whistling, catcalling, and slut shaming. The painting does more than acknowledge the victim. It engages the perpetrator. Setting up the prominent derriere in a gaudy skirt holds up a mirror to men’s entitled ogling at women’s bodies.
[Zvashamisa!? is currently at First Floor Gallery Harare, in the exhibtion — On A Clear Day You Can See A Future. Featuring Mavis Tauzeni with Amanda Mushate.]
