|
Frank McEwen showing Queen Elizebeth the opening
for
The Rhodes National Gallery in Salisbury, Rhodesia, 1956 |
The inaugural show comprised several elements: European Old Masters from
the Louvre, the London National Gallery, the Tate, the Stedelijke Museum,
the Rijksmuseum and others; there were also Modern Masters, some Traditional
African Sculpture and a small section showing the influence of Africa
on twentieth century western Schools; Picasso and he Expressionists.
Later the Gallery was to stage the First International Congress of African
Culture: a congress, art exhibitions, dance and music. From the inception
it was sought to satisfy the countryÕs new, and pressing need for culture.
In eight years 70 exhibitions were staged. To this panorama all continents
contributed.
From the beginning it was obvious also that, in a country where there
was no art, neither traditional nor contemporary, a School must be made
to arouse latent talents and to form a new, nontraditional culture.
Almost immediately local artists began working with strong encouragement,
recognition and promotion from the National Gallery. Our efforts received
superb response. Our international exhibitions helped decant ideas which
flowed in numerous directions and no wise, as so often is the case, tending
to follow one pattern or master. |
