Mbare Art Space Unveils “Kushambidzwa: Lines of Discomfort” by Lomedy Mhako
Mbare Art Space will today at 4pm launch “Kushambidzwa: Lines of Discomfort”, a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Lomedy Mhako. The show features installations, object-based works and spatial interventions, using domestic materials Mhako calls rurimi rwamai, or mother’s tongue. Everyday objects such as chairs, pegs, brooms and household tools are rearranged into forms that explore labour, power, care and survival. In this process, familiar items lose their comfort, revealing the weight of the systems they uphold and prompting viewers to confront underlying social structures.
The exhibition draws inspiration from kushambidzwa, a Shona cleansing ritual. Curator Tafadzwa “Mbalizwey” Mushayi explains that Mhako reframes this tradition not as erasure but as confrontation. The works ask audiences to acknowledge what is broken in social, political and economic realities before meaningful change can occur. According to a press statement, the exhibition encourages viewers to sit with discomfort and recognise the fractures embedded within everyday systems, rather than ignoring or erasing them.
Mhako told NewsDay Life & Style that his practice centres on marginalised communities and reflects the urgency of current crises. He emphasised that his vocabulary is limited, so materials act as tools to express what words cannot, allowing him to convey concerns about global and national challenges. A self-taught artist, Mhako has been an artist-in-residence at Mbare Art Space for the past year. He credited the space with shaping his approach to storytelling and helping him articulate contemporary social experiences through art.
The exhibition coincides with a visit from design students of Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography from South Africa, fostering dialogue between art and design as frameworks for understanding and reimagining social structures. Mbare Art Space founder Moffat Takadiwa highlighted the institution’s role as a convergence point for different knowledge systems, linking local artistic practice with international academic collaboration. He noted that Mhako’s exploration of lines and forms pushes his work beyond traditional comfort zones.
Kushambidzwa: Lines of Discomfort marks a first solo exhibition for both Mhako and curator Mushayi. The show emphasises the significance of design in everyday culture and African economies, demonstrating that creation begins with thoughtful design. By using familiar materials in unfamiliar ways, Mhako challenges audiences to rethink ordinary objects, social norms and systems that shape life in Zimbabwe and beyond. The exhibition promises an immersive experience that blends cultural reflection, political commentary and aesthetic innovation.
