Tichaona Ncube

from Travel & Leisure Zambia & Zimbabwe May-Aug 2021

by Lyn G

Getting behind the Label

Artist Interview TICHAONA NCUBE

[WRITER: Andrew Muswala ] [ PHOTO: Tich the Watchman ]

Briefly tell us about your background?

Born on December 1986, in Tsholotsho a western rural area of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. I started drawing as a boy. My art interests began to emerge in drawing cattle and wildlife like the greater kudus which we would encounter during herding cattle in the bush close to the Hwange National Park boundary.

I attended school and grew up in Tsholotsho and then moved to Victoria Falls in 1999 for my secondary school education at Mosi-oaTunya High School, where I had a year in an art class during my final year and I then started to pursue Art as a career in November 2002.

Was introduced to the professional art industry by Sanele Dhlomo and the late Jimmy James Nkomo who had been drawing and painting in Victoria Falls. Since then, I have marketed locally and outside the country and have my works collected by both tourists and art collectors. Young and upcoming artists are often inspired by nature and in this region, specifically by the world class Victoria Falls, which is so wonderfully rich in natural beauty. I find most of my ‘brush stroke’ encouragement from the professional wildlife artist Larry Norton.

Currently, I am working from a small home tent-studio and within the parameters of lockdown restrictions, I freelance as a tutor with an art safari company @Art of Africa Zimbabwe (http://www.artofafrica.co.zw/) also as an art instructor and mentor at Arts for Animals (Children in the Wilderness/Wilderness Safaris, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Social@ arts4animals) where I hold art club workshops with high school students focussing on talent development and environmental awareness with wildlife conservation. I’ve spent most of the Covid-19 lockdown producing art works at my home studio.

How would you describe yourself?

I love God. I love people and music. I love nature. These are the true rhythms of life. I cherish outdoor living and the ‘African village’ lifestyle. When it comes to my work(s), I believe artists and art admirers have a better perspective, so I ask them what they think and see from my work. I listen to critiques and take notes because am not easily impressed with everything I do. Almost every artist has this feeling within themselves, “I want to be better than this tomorrow”. I also wish for enough strength to change for a better tomorrow, guess that’s what pushes me to go on each day, trying to improve my work. That makes me a happy person pursuing, what am sure I’m going to win someday, because I love happiness. I know everyone loves happiness too and with art we can find that happiness together.

What do you love most about your career?

Freedom of expression, no limitations to what I wish to accomplish. It all depends on me and the time I render.

What has been the best part of your career so far?

There has been two special moments in my life as an artist so far;

1. Johannesburg in South Africa, 2009, selling my work in a foreign country with a man called Johan Le Roux.

2. Making art during lockdowns has made me realise the importance of ART! Less interruptions, less noise and very limited movements (though I value physical exercise).

What makes your job exciting?

Control and ownership of my work is rewarding, only needs good Timing.

What makes it challenging?

Having to let go of your work to buyers eventually. Sometimes it feels like loss. But, I mean, those are the rewards, right?

During COVID-19 pandemic the huge challenge is support, people don’t have enough to spend. Even if they had, it’s quite a scary experiment to spend money on art while people need food and medicine which I’m in need of too!

If people from different parts of the world want to buy your art pieces, how do they get hold of you?

I’m reachable on WhatsApp and calls on my Cell at +263 77 261 9188 or +263 71 595 9328, E-mail at ncubezt07@gmail.com and most importantly visit and follow me on my social media pages: Facebook//TWI @tichthewatchman

Any final words?

I’d like to say that my work takes a critical view of human and wildlife issues. I think of my work as inventories of fragments and representations, to invite the viewer to connect back to nature and the relationship we have lost with the Creator. I try to make visible what is overlooked in our origins, the natural world. My approach has always been grounded in pleasure and aesthetics. A shared perception reveals that survival is required for both human nature and all our surroundings and wildlife. ~thewatchman©2021