Grace Nyahangare (b. 1996, Harare)

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 other. The bodies have no beginning or end. Apart from a few faces, we can only see a few distorted arms reaching out, embracing one another.

Using a mix of printmaking and painting techniques, Nyahangare uses a bright palette. The title of the work, however, suggests something dark. Tabvegehena translates to “escape from Hell.” Are the arms reaching out to welcome someone back, or to catch them? Nyahangare created a series of works 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.