The EUNIC Zimbabwe Cluster (British Council, Alliance Française and Goethe Institute) and The National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, announce the second edition of Basket Case, a visual art and design project bringing together five prominent African and European artists: Ifeoma Anyaeji (Nigeria), Alexandra Bircken (Germany), Tapfuma Gutsa (Zimbabwe), Delaine Lebas (United Kingdom) and Michel Paysant (France), who are commissioned to create new pieces in collaboration with basket weavers located in various parts of Zimbabwe.

Two acclaimed European designers, matali crasset (France) and Sebastian Herkner (Germany), are also leading creative workshops with two weaving communities, drawing from their own expertise and the weavers’ traditional craft to develop innovative designs enhancing the communities’ range of objects.

Taking part in this project are the Binga Craft Centre (Binga), Bulawayo Home Industries (Bulawayo), Lupane Women’s Centre (Lupane), Step Trust (Honde Valley) and Zienzele Foundation (Masvingo).

Basket Case II is developed in two phases: artists residencies and design workshops held during spring and summer 2014, and a major exhibition and catalogue planned for October to coincide with the inauguration of the renovated National Gallery of Zimbabwe. The project will also include a series of talks and debates on interdisciplinary practice and sustainability in the fields of crafts, design and visual arts.

Basket Case II is curated by Christine Eyene, Guild Research Fellow in Contemporary Art, University of Central Lancashire, and Raphael Chikukwa, Chief Curator of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. The project is a EUNIC Zimbabwe initiative and is funded by the European Union.

site.eunic-online.eu/zimbabwe

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