Chuma revives surrealism
Thato Kala | Friday April 25, 2014 12:10
He is happy to be revivifying the form that had all but vanished. Those in the know say surrealism is often considered both a cultural and revolutionary art movement.
The form dedicated itself to depicting the subconscious and as such many critics regard surrealism as a substantial divergence from traditional fine art. Despite what critics have to say, Chuma is committed to stripping ordinary objects of their normal function as well as exposing psychological truth to create abstract images to evoke empathy from those that see his work.
One man who did that quite well during his heyday is the late Salvador Dali, whose works Chuma has an appreciation for.
“I am a surrealism artist,” says a poised Chuma.
“I paint and draw compositions that are dreamlike,” he explains.
But while surrealism fathers like Dali sold their works to make a living, the University of Botswana student has his own reasons and way of doing it. He reveals that he finds it hard to part with his works, perhaps explaining why he seems bent on attaining a professional qualification.
“I never really sell my art because I feel much attached to it and what transpired for it to come about,” he says.
Nonetheless, he emphasises art is his life and he would never trade it even for sciences.
The man who hails from Jakalas No 1 fell in love with art at a tender age. Unlike most children who begin to hone their art skills in pre-school with coloured pencils, Chuma never got that chance.
The 20-year-old says his grandfather was a Shona from Zimbabwe and introduced him to craftsmanship early on. The budding artist spent part of his childhood in the neighbouring country under his grandparents’ care.
After staying with his grandparents he moved to Orapa to live with his parents. Because his grandparents had already cultivated a passion for art in him, he naturally gravitated towards it once there.
“I would make wire cars for guys in my street while they were at school. I would then trade with them with toy cars. Sometimes they would give me crafts that they did at school,” says the artist.
Since that time, his love for art has continued to grow. He started drawing in 2000 as a seven-year-old.
“I was always the best art and design student until senior high school in Mater Spei College,” he says. His colleague Fikile Mabula admits he has a brilliant eye when it comes to art.
“Over the years, he has displayed amazing passion for what he does,” says Mabula.
He backs Mabula’s opinion up: “Just by looking at something, my eye tells me that I am be able to draw it instantly.”
Mabula who recently landed a job in Zambia to paint a lodge’s inner walls says he will travel to Livingstone with Chuma.
“I definitely value his input and he is one guy I cannot leave behind. It is always a joy to work with Kabo,” Mabula says.
He reveals surrealism is not Chuma’s only passion, neither is it the only art-related thing he can do.
“He is also a writer and a slam poet,” he says of his friend. Interestingly, his poems also carry an element of surrealism.
“In this art form, images and events that are not connected are put together in an impossible way, like a dream. It is from deep in the mind,” says Chuma.
He says his poetry and art are inseparable.
He, however, explains that it just goes in accordance to what can best express what he is thinking at the time. Paint brush and canvas or pen on paper.
Last year, he did a live painting for gospel crooner Tshepo Lesole at his listening session.
Lesole was promoting his then latest album at Botswanacraft.
Chuma also considers the two songs he did alongside Lesole a great experience. He yearns for more opportunities to do the same.
“I do that with singers, I follow them as they sing according to how I interpret their music,” he says.
He explains that with Lesole, he had to make a painting in just eight minutes and describes that as humbling but challenging.
Following his passion for writing, he formed an ensemble called Silent Voices Theatre Ensemble that covers arts across. The group was formed in 2010 when he was doing his Form Five.