Grace Nyahangare (b. 1996, Harare, Zimbabwe)

Tabvegehena

2023, oil, printer's ink, and monotype on canvas, 100 x 100 cm.

Photo by First Floor Gallery, Harare. Courtesy of the artist and First Floor Gallery, Harare. ©Grace Nyahangare.

In Tabvegehena, we see a mass of bodies holding each othe, with no beginning or end. The colours are bright, but the title, Tabvegehena translates to “escape from Hell.” Apart from a few faces, we can only see a few distorted arms reaching out. Are they embracing each other or trying to catch someone?

READ ABOUT THE BACKGROUND HERE…

This is one of a series of works Nyahangare created rks after a traumatic experience. She accepted a job at what she thought would be an art fair in the UAE. Upon her arrival, however, her passport was confiscated, and she was forced to work 14 hour shifts as a waitress. She suffered much abuse and racism during this time. Thankfully, she was able to escape and return to Zimbabwe after three years.

In spite of this dark episode in her life, the colours in the painting are vivid, and the splashes of printer ink draws us into the work. Nyahangare suggests that healing and positivity is possible, even though we may live through difficult times and experience personal hardship.