TAFADZWA TEGA

(b.1985 Harare, Zimbabwe)

The narrative expectations and contradictions of the diaspora experience are the central subject of Zimbabwean-born artist Tafadzwa Tega’s socio-political portraits of immigrants.

“My work speaks to the struggles and dreams of the people of Zimbabwe. Political and economic instability over several decades has forced many Zimbabweans, including myself and some family members, to emigrate. Finding themselves in foreign countries – and, often, subjected to poor working and living conditions – Zimbabweans learn how to make ends meet while, at the same time, not forgoing ambition. These opposing currents – joy and desire on the one hand; exploitation and alienation on the other – often come to be represented in photographs. In these photographs, people dress their best; they choose glamorous settings for backgrounds; they pose. My paintings are based off of these photographs, conveying my countrymen’s resilience and determination to live (or, at least, to project) a better life.

The zumbani (tea leaf from the fever tree) composes the background of each portrait. Zumbani is a medicinal plant that for generations has been used to provide relief from various illnesses such as coughs, colds, headaches and, most recently, COVID-19. While its effectiveness has been disputed, I refer to zumbani symbolically. We, as Zimbabweans, are scattered across the globe; zumbani reminds us of the places where we grew up, of our mothers and grandmothers who prepared this herb for us when we took ill. In this way, the flower connects us to home and ancestry. It is a sign of national identity founded on the basis of care and, thus, serves as a talisman against grief.”

Tafadzwa Tega was born in Harare and studied art at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. In 2008, Tega moved to South Africa, later joining Good Hope Art Studio. Tega has participated in several group exhibitions and has presented solo exhibitions in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa as well as Lausanne, Switzerland. His work can be found in several prominent private collections, including the Leridon Collection, the Spier Arts Trust, Nando’s and the University of Cape Town. Tega is currently based in Cape Town, where he is a resident at Greatmore Studios.

EDUCATION

2008      Diploma in Fine Art, National Gallery of Zimbabwe

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023       Chisi hachieri musi wacharimwa – A seed will take its time to grow, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

               Exodus, Mimmo Scognamiglio, Milan, Italy

2021       Harare Dream, Foreign Agent, Lausanne, Switzerland

2020       Mwana Whevu (Son of the Soil), Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019       Africa Without Borders, Gallery MOMO, Cape Town, South Africa

2014       Africa Without Borders, World Art, Cape Town, South Africa

2012       Adolf Tega, AVA Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023       miart Fair, with Mimmo Scognamiglio / Placido, Milan, Italy

              Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Mimmo Scognamiglio / Placido, Cape Town, South Africa

2022       Art Miami, with Mimmo Scognamiglio / Placido, Miami USA

              Volta Fair, with Mimmo Scognamiglio / Placido, Basel, Switzerland

              Dallas Art Fair, with Mimmo Scognamiglio / Placido, Dallas, USA

2021       A Very Loop Street Summer, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

              8x8, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

              Art Miami, with Mimmo Scognamiglio / Placido, Miami USA

              Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Ebony/Curated, Cape Town, South Africa

              Dallas Art Fair, with Mimmo Scognamiglio / Placido, Dallas, USA

              Open City: Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt, FNB Art Joburg, South Africa

              Foreign Agent, 1-54 London, UK

2020       Summer Show, Gallery MOMO, Cape Town, South Africa

               Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Gallery MOMO, Cape Town, South Africa

2019       #Recess, Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa

               Urban Archeology, Daor Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa

               Nando’s Creative Exchange, AVA Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

               FNB Art Joburg, with Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa

COLLECTIONS

Leridon Collection, France

Spier Arts Trust, South Africa

Nando’s Collection, South Africa

University of Cape Town, South Africa

Fundacion AMMA, Mexico

Fundacion para el Desarrollo de la Pintura, Spain