Rashid Jogee

Visual Artist

The late Rashid Jogee was born in Bulawayo. He started painting at the age of nineteen and between 1973 to1976 Study of textile design at Mzilikazi Art and Craft Centre and he continued his training between 1976 – 1978 Studying applied arts and design at the Bulawayo Technical Collage.

Jogee was famous for his colourful abstract and expressionist compositions; He uses watercolour, acrylic, and also carves stone. He is Zimbabwe’s most independent and original artists, who works in a variety of styles and techniques in which, mood and visual apparitions of nature, cities, and people are captured in line, pattern, symbol and gesture. Famous for these spontaneous colourful compositions, Jogee’s idiosyncratic works transcend the attention of market forces and shun commercialism.

Jogee had over forty-eight exhibitions in Zimbabwe, as well as exhibitions in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, England, USA, Denmark, and Sweden. In 2013 he represented Zimbabwe at the Venice Biennale. In the 1992 he received the Presidential Award of Excellence for his contribution and outstanding dedication to the development of the visual arts in Zimbabwe. In 2006 he received the Intwasa Festival Award.

Jogee conducted numerous workshops in Murewa, Cyrene and Marondera in Zimbabwe and Thapong in Botswana. He has held numerous solo exhibitions in Zimbabwe including “Retrospective Exhibition of Rashid Jogee`s Work,” National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo (2012) in 2012. “Rashid Jogee“, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo (2001), “Colour Fields & Inner Landscapes“, Gallery Delta, Harare (1992), “Rashid Jogee and Richard Jack“, Gallery Delta, Harare (1990), Rashid Jogee and Berry Bickle, Avenue Nine Gallery, Bulawayo (1989) and “Rashid Jogee and Stephen Williams”, Gallery Delta, Harare, (1978).

He had been part of other numerous exhibitions where he entered his work in Group Exhibitions including “Colour Africa” in Munich Germany (2011), “34 Years Plus: The Gallery Delta Benefit Exhibition”, (2009), “Transitions. Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Collection of Robert Loder of the Triangle Trust, The Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental an African Studies”, London, England (2005), “Harare Biennale”, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare (2004) “4th International Artists Residency at the Godown Art Centre”:, Nairobi (2003), “Kunst in Zimbabwe, Iwalewa-Haus, Bayreuth, Germany (2001), “African contemporary art. Sculptures and paintings from Zimbabwe and Uganda ”, Art Transit, Berlin, German(1995) and “Contemporary Art from Southern Africa: Art from the Frontline”, Glasgow Art Gallery, London, England (1990).

He’s works have also been featured in numerous publications including Murray and Barbara’s Transitions. Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe 1960 – 2004, “Notes on my Involvement in Art Making in Southern Africa over Two Decades” by Robert Loder and “Changing Seasons”, notes from a meeting with Rashid Jogee by Voti Thebe.

Jogee had been active in the arts for over 3 decades and was considered one of the god fathers of contemporary art in Zimbabwe. He has taught at Mzilikazi Arts and Craft Centre as well as Founders High school in Bulawayo imparting knowledge and grooming young talent in the city.—NACZ.