What is Visual Art?

To know as much about the Zimbabwean Art before embarking on buying or criticise artworks is first necessary and desirable to clarify it.
There are mystries in art,although at times it may seemed to be obscure and incomprehensible.This is particulary true of Art.
Art can literally defined as the translation and interpretation of nature in terms of human skills.This definition is deliberately wide and encompassing because Art itself is distinguished by the freedom with which it ranges over an immensely wide field.
The language of visual arts are concerned with expressions which can be seen.An artist is a person who expresses himself visually .Artists can make an exact record of what had seen or can make an expression of things .An Artist paint things of beauty if it is so moved or can record unbeautiful things in protest of their existence.
The desire which a painter may feel to express as a sensation or record on occassion in colours and shapes is also common to the poet.When an Artist moved by environment or wants to interpretes his reaction in words the writer of pros may construct a whole story around the response to conditions which had moved him/her.
The music composer may group sounds together to recreate in the listerner something that inspired the artist
Work of Art has been said that there are two parts to the life of the work of Art.Its creation and the understanding of it.Most Artists are conscious of the need to make their reason for painting a picture understood to the people whom may see it later.When a painting doesn't communicate anything at all it becomes merely a personal exercise on the part of the Artist and has only fulfilled half its purpose.
Only the objects can do the talking in all cases in the work of visual Arts.

ZIMBABWE'S CULTURE AND EDUCATION ON LANGUAGE ISSUE!

Zimbabwe's culture as a national culture is trick , since it has a lot of external influence by virtue of its history pre-colonial ,colonial and post colonial era.
Culture is basically the thinking and doing of people. It comparises the dressing styles, art ,history ,craft ,philosophy ,architecture ,customs ,music ,drama ,codes of behaviour eating habits ,transport and language.
Culture is influenced by external and internal factors.It appears to be static ,but because of influenced by environment it is dynamic.
Zimbabwe 's National Cultural Policy objective 14:Promote the African language inorder to make them effective tools in the country's socio-economic development." The African languages found in Zimbabwe are Chishona and its six dialects, Ndebele ,Venda, Tonga and Shangaan. Although there are great strides in promoting African languages in Education system.
English is the still the national language as shown by communication in the press media, electronic media,courts and law,schools and most official functions in government circles.
The fact is that Zimbabwean leaders that are political ,religious and educational are without option because the language gain it memondum since the colonial era and covers the whole nation despite different ethnic groups.
The idea of promoting vernacular language in Zimbabwe can only be done at a ethic community not as national since it can frustrated by modern African elite.
The actual facts to note is that numerous letters used to communicate are from English. To reach a wider audience one has to use English which is by far used to write education books ,stationery ,notices ,road signs into Chishona or Ndebele would be too expensive though nationalistic or patriotic a gesture! The use of any African vernacular is actually unnecessary and wasteful , since English is now not just a language of colonizers ,but also for Zimbabweans.
It is fully part of Zimbabwean culture which the Zimbabweans are actually cherish.
I also noted that the NGOs promoted our ethnic languages as they donate lot of money to print books in local language . SIDA, DFID,USAID ,IRISH AID the list is endless who contributed to promotion of African languages in formal education system.The English language is effectively used to disseminate information and there may have translations if the goal is to succeed.
When it comes to language I want to argue that we should not be over zealous or disproportionately proud of vernacular languages. But we should observe how influencing is our language in communication with others. Today there are so many people who are promoting their language on the internet. They are so many Zimbabweans in diaspora who want to communicate their languages everyday. And they are so many people who may also emulate Zimbabwean culture and want to learn to speak one of the local languages.
Let also learn from those countries colonised by Portugal. These are Mozambique and Angola their experiences where Portuguese has been used to unify the numerous ethnic groups. The Portuguese in these countries is spoken even by those people who never go to school and young children ,unlike in Zimbabwe where you have to go to school to speak and write in English. In Zimbabwean schools pupils are encouraged to communicate in English for better performance in external examinations. Zimbabweans are proud of English as it enhances learning in science and technology which are the hope of mankind to provide solutions in the social challenges and where computer and information technology is dominating.
On the national dress Zimbabwe culture is gradually formulating her own dress code .
Inconclusion I believe that external influences do not destroy a culture .Remember any social civilization develop rapidly through contact with other cultures and select the best in education system.By so doing we will even become more patriotic and honourable in promoting our country's culture and its education.