Moffat Takediwa: The Art of Waste

I am in Zimbabwe at the moment and was very lucky to have the chance to see the work of Moffat Takadiwa (b 1983) at the National Gallery of Art in Harare. The exhibition is called Vestiges of Colonialism and showcases a variety of large scale sculptures which he makes from discarded objects- rubbish:the products of landfill which undulate and shimmer as they cascade down the wall or take possession of the floor…everything from computer keys to toothbrushes to the insides of ball point pens. He weaves together everyday detritus to make organic forms which embrace the possibilities of making something beautiful and permanent out of global waste. Beneath these hypnotic tapestries of waste lurk issues of exploitation, historically and in the present.

Takadiwa has about 30 helpers who scour public dumps along with studio assistants who help assemble his pieces

This was one of my favourite installations- Same Old Song. A dense forest of old tape reels and then in a clearing, what looks like a log…in fact made of vinyl records.

This installation looks like a delicate ceramic from afar…

Moffat Takadiwa was a founder and plays an active part in the Mbare Art Space in Harare which mentors the growing art community in Zimbabwe. He also has an ever growing international presence. The majority of his work uses a tapestry like format and as such none of my photographs can truly do them justice:they have to be seen to be appreciated. ‘I want to start a dialogue around colonial residue in Africa and how it is causing a lot of challenges in contemporary Africa and in Zimbabwe in particular’, he explained in a recent interview for Sculpture Magazine. These works are as multi-layered as the materials they are made from- addressing complicated and challenging legacies of historical western domination, on-going economic exploitation and cultural identities.