ARTISTS have a significant role to play in developmental efforts of the country and can best tell the real Zimbabwean story to the world, local artistes exhibiting at the ongoing National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) 2015 Portrait Show, have said. The exhibition, running under the theme, ‘Prominent Personalities: Portraits of Zimbabwe’, runs up to June and showcases works by some of the country’s best artistes. Portraits on exhibition showcase prominent personalities in politics, academics, musicians and actors. According to the NGZ deputy director and chief curator, Raphael Chikukwa, the exhibition, “makes us see the need for us to recognise our achievement and our own people in Zimbabwe.” Portraits include those of President Robert Mugabe, First Lady Amai Dr Grace Mugabe, athlete Elliot Mujaji, maverick businesswoman Divine Ndhlukula of Securico, who owns one of the country’s largest security companies in the country, which in 2011 had revenues of US$13 million. One of the artists with the largest portraits in the exhibition, Ras Aesop Tshovutshovu I, said he was inspired by the country’s history. “Our history is filled with great characters that did phenomenal works that have enabled us to realise and live our dreams,” said the artist who did giant portraits of Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi and President Robert Mugabe. Tshovutshovu I explained his ‘obsession’ with doing portraits of President Mugabe that he has been doing in various forms for the past six years and delivering to the charismatic statesman. “Many do not understand why every time I am commissioned to do works, especially by the NGZ, there will always be a piece of the President because I am what I am because of the man,” he said. “I am a beneficiary of the Presidential Scholarship that put me through art school. “Since 2012 I have been delivering portraits to President Mugabe whom I hope to one day meet, efforts to meet him have thus far not been successful, the man is my inspiration and hero. “I would really love to do a collaboration with him on some of my works where he will just contribute some strokes.” Artists, he said, were critical in capturing the story of the country in a medium that was timeless. Explaining his gigantic portraits of Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi and President Mugabe, Tshovutshovu I said these were iconic figures that have significantly helped shape the destiny of the country. “The sizes of the portraits also depict the importance of these figures who have been inspirational leaders that did not and have not allowed outsiders to have their way with us,” he said. Another artist, Batsirai Muskwe, a veteran of more than 20 years, said art was critical to ongoing development efforts in the country. “We are social commentators and we give people hope when life appears bleak,” he said. “Art never changes green or red remain the same even when everything else is changing, there is something in colours that is soothing and which keeps hope alive,” said Muskwe. Art, he said, was also an investment that had potential to transform lives. “Paintings by the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci painted more than 100 years ago are today priceless, costing millions of dollars,” Muskwe said. “The portrait of Safirio Madzikatire, popularly known as Mukadota, in some 400 years from today will be priceless.” Budding artists that include Abel Zhorufura, who did a portrait of the national hero and ZANLA military commander, Josiah Tongogara, are also part of the exhibition. “I am the youngest artist in this collection and I am inspired by the works of all the veterans exhibiting,” he said. Chief curator Chikukwa said the exhibition would not be a one time event. “We strive to renew this exhibition continuously over the coming years,” said Chikukwa. “Our projection with this show is to see it become a stand-alone gallery that would seek to empower the portrait genre and expose artists while showcasing all of our people that have made sterling contributions across all the sectors.”