Takunda Regis Billiat

Mbare, Harare’s oldest high-density suburb is a significant base for Takunda Regis Billiat, who was born in 1990. The suburb not only serves as his current abode but it is the base for his artistic practice.

Takunda’s fascination with materials dates to his childhood years and its significant imprint is still evident through his work as a visual artist. His work is deeply inspired by the vibrant yet challenging urban landscapes of the township, where he grew up.

He spends time collecting, grading, and cleaning materials including flip flops, seeds, wire constructs, and cow horns sourced from local dump sites, gardens, and abattoirs, ultimately transforming them into compelling scriptural compositions.

Conveying art as a spiritual transaction, he imagines and reflects on the experiences of each material form, typically found in a “state of brokenness,” and carefully strips each one with intentionality, binding and bonding the different energies together to create a sense of harmony.

It is through this process that he gives life to the large sculptures that have become synonymous with his work. A process of reviving and giving new life to once-discarded materials that constitute a blend of traditional and modern influences.

His journey to working as a practising artist began at the National Gallery School of Art and Visual Design, where he obtained a National Certificate in Fine Art in 2014.