Language is defined as the system of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to each other. This may be aural, visual or any other form but its basic duty is communication.

Get paid to write app reviews

An art exhibition titled ‘The Unspoken Language’ was currently opened at First Floor Gallery in Harare on Thursday, October 15, 2015. The artist, Tendai Mpita is one of the upcoming contemporary visual artists of our time and this was his debut solo exhibition.

The Unspoken language is a collection of 22 works ranging from sculpture, drawings and installations. 

At first glance the artworks appear to be simple drawings and prints that make no sense. It seems the artist just scribbled and dripped paint on the canvas or metal sheets that were used.

But, when you look closely, you notice a pattern. A style that has been employed to produce the body of works. Hand signals, symbols, sounds and visual imagery were employed to bring out the meaning of the theme through the works.

A man sitting next to a chimpanzee, both holding condoms to signify the importance of sex in both species, naked people with their hands up high signifying peace, love and harmony are just some of the artworks on display.

The most outstanding piece is an installation in the form of a light box. At the back of the light there is a cannula which represents the inflow of information from the outside world. That information is then represented in form of facial expressions at the front of the light box. Many questions will then spring to mind, what is this information? From whom does it come?

PIC: N. JECHE | ZIMBOJAM.COM | Every Room Has A heart Beat by Tendai Mpita

To the one contemplating the artworks, the exhibition is just a reflection of a society that lives day by day communicating. To the artist, it another thing, “I see the world differently, and the exhibition is just a way of presenting my experiences and thoughts.”

“In every culture, we recognize and understand a multitude of symbols, gestures and signals for their specific content. More than that in every culture, these non-verbal communications have their own vernacular vocabulary which reflects the specifics of that culture and its traditions,” said the exhibition curator, Valerie Kabov.

“In a cultural context of Zimbabwe, where much of written communication is conducted in English, the use of complimentary communication becomes more significant to reflect aspects of culture that are lost in translation,” Kabov continued.

The exhibition will run until November 15.