1992 Masvingo Zimbabwe
Salanje is a prolific commentator on Zimbabweans, ranging from those in his immediate neighbourhood to
public figures, from friends and neighbours to priests and politicians. Obsessed with portraiture, real or
imagined, his works – whether in miniature or on large canvases – shed light on individual personalities and the
quirks of human nature. They also cumulatively build a narrative of the moral economy, normative attitudes, and
behavioural modes of a country with a complex socio-political history.
In one moment Salanje might make us think of expressionists such as Jawlensky or Munch. At the same time,
he employs a palette and brush stroke that is embedded in the contemporary art scene of Zimbabwe
and delivers a rich and unique style. Some of Salanje’s portraiture appears benign or even complimentary. Yet
even in those paintings that flatter, especially those of women, their boldly coloured, enticing lips dangle
question marks about their integrity. Other portraits are melancholic, whilst others still are distinctly ghoulish:
something within them or their environment melts their features, turning them into plasticized and horrifying
versions of their former selves, perhaps signalling moral pollution or another disease. Salanje does not draw
boundaries to his commentary, speaking implicitly and explicitly on religion, politics, and human vices, as well
as everyday relationships.
Born in 1992 in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, Salanje has exhibited widely via Zimbabwe’s leading exhibition platforms
including Gallery Delta, First Floor Gallery Harare, and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
He has also shown with Guns & Rain at the Turbine Art Fair and in group shows in Johannesburg. He had a
solo exhibition with Guns & Rain in 2018. He holds a certificate in Fine Arts from the National Gallery of Zimbabwe
Visual Art Studio.
His work is held in multiple local and international collections, including the ARAK Collection, Qatar and the
AMAWAL Collection, Spain.
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