IN a bid to raise mental health awareness among men, Kudzai Nyamurowa created a descriptive artwork titled Depression and Schizophrenia.
The artwork captures different moods and artistic illustrations, featuring grey clouds surrounded by rain.
Nyamurowa gives viewers an opportunity to describe their interpretations of the piece.
"It's an art-piece about the poor mental health many men face today, particularly depression,” he said.
“As men, we are expected to adhere to ideal standards, regardless of the challenges we face.
“Whether these standards are met or not, our minds suffer.
“Men, in reality, are not emotionless providers; we will break down at some point.”
Nyamurowa explained that the depression-focused artwork was inspired by the reality of creatives in Zimbabwe, and arguably elsewhere, who are not always appreciated for their talents.
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"Due to this single factor, most creatives are susceptible to depression and tend to have sensitive minds,” he said.
“For us men, it's even worse because we are culturally programmed to be breadwinners, yet our creative endeavours are often viewed as hobbies, not professions.
“This idea birthed this art piece.
Nyamurowa described his creative process as starting with observing his own emotions generated during meditation.
He contemplates the cause of these emotions.
“My fascination with the mind, mentalism, psychology, and dreams drives my art,” he said.
“I study sacred mantra art and use dreamlike scenes to convey important messages, aiming to explore how mental states impact health and well-being.
“I hope viewers will research the symbolism in my art, finding keys to healthier minds and reducing mental illness.
“My goals are to create a sense of warmth and enlightenment, helping people to recognise familiar images from their visions or dreams, and fostering better mental health.”
Nyamurowa explained that when creating artworks about depression, he usually uses a cooler colour palette.
"I create such artwork when I am in that state as a form of therapy,” he said.
“So, my symbolism isn't as dark as how I might feel. I'm a surrealist, so I try to fuse ideas and images together.
“For instance, the clouds substitute for grey hair, both standing as symbols and symptoms of stress and depression.”
The artist said his art form has evolved, becoming more minimalistic with more pastel tones instead of just grayscale. It also appears warmer.
Nyamurowa advised fellow artists, who explore mental health themes to avoid being too graphic, as it could be unpleasant and overshadow the artwork's purpose.
People might be turned off by excessively graphic depictions.
The artist believes the arts industry's focus should be on empowering artists to navigate the art space and make a living, instead of just giving them exposure.
According to the World Health Organisation's Prevention and Management of Mental Health Conditions in Zimbabwe Report of 2022, 1.8% of all deaths in Zimbabwe are attributed to suicide, with men contributing at a higher rate than women.
June 10-16 was International Men's Health Week, intended to raise awareness of men's mental health issues and encourage them to seek help.
