Tate Infinities Commission nora chipaumire: gadzi
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
In this new work, nora chipaumire draws on the legends, stones and soil of her native country, Zimbabwe.
The artist shares, ‘gadzi (shortened from gadziguru) is the oldest female being and a creative force tied to the legends of Shona people. She is connected to sacred places in our country: domboramwari, Great Zimbabwe, Matopos and domboshava. gadzi is a manifestation of everlasting and haunting resilience beyond colonial concepts. She is considered the mother of god, who gave birth to the magnificent Balancing Rocks. Both strong and precarious, the rocks carry the stories and energies of the ancestors from the past into the present and future.’
chipaumire’s gadzi is a ‘living and breathing organism’, constructed entirely by hand. ‘I moved away from trying to represent the rocks as they really exist in nature. Instead, we show the process of making.’ chipaumire builds the sculptures from wood, wire and cardboard, giving new meaning to everyday materials. The figure of gadzi is perched on the top of it all, reflecting.
📍 @tate Modern
East Tank, Bankside
Until 23 August 2026
Free entry
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