Glimmer of Hope by Chipika Simanwe

Chipika Simanwe was born in the capital city of Zambia, Lusaka in 1978. He is an abstract painter who studied computer graphics in Zambia and India and was a graphic designer for the past 10 years.  The scenes that Chipika “Red Handed” Simanwe depicts in his paintings show his visual narration of social life around him, in a unique combination of soft abstraction inter spaced with realistic impressions. Many artists are sympathetic with what society is currently facing and these moments are shown in a variety of angles, showcasing a soft approach that captures the ordinary Zambian way of life. The title “Red Handed” symbolizes the overtones of passionate substance that stems from his volcanic chambers. The hot fired title also underscores a time in the artists’ life when he takes a leap of artistic faith that elevates him and takes his craft to another level. The hot palette has no heat to melt your fears, yet images tend to be a compound of techniques. Chipika has been working steadily in his craft, all the while climbing the ladder of success through participation in exhibitions within Zambia and overseas notably in Greece and Japan. He has proven his graphic design prowess in various logo competitions and earning honorable mentions across artistic terrain, yet he is still developing himself and pushing himself beyond his already established creative limits. He recently won an award (best 2 dimensional artist) at the 2020 Zambia National Visual Arts Council Awards ceremony.