"Chiko came to the Visual Arts Department as Artist in Residence during the second trimester of 2002. His role was to work alongside the students in the department and share with them his ideas, approaches and techniques. He also taught a few classes for Two Dimensional Studies on a more formal basis when they were doing a printing project. Whilst in the department he worked on a series of his own prints which were exhibited in the UNAM Gallery at the end of the trimester together with the students work.

Chiko is from Zimbabwe and is a well-known artist in the region. He is particularly known for his silk screen prints. He has visited Namibia before as a participant in the Tulipamwe International Artists Workshop and has conducted teaching workshops at the John Muafangejo Arts Centre.

The stated AIMS of the Tulipamwe International Artists Workshop through which Chiko's residency was arranged include;

· To provide an educational forum for artists from different localities and backgrounds to work together and to gain insight into the visual art scenes in different countries via slide presentations critiques and discussions.

Chiko made two slide presentations about his own work and about art in Zimbabwe. He held a discussion with students about his exhibition once it was up and held many informal discussions with students about his motivations and preoccupations as an artist. Many of the issues that are currently preoccupying the Visual Arts students at UNAM were shared and the students gained a lot of insight into their own ideas from these discussions. The theme that the students were addressing in the second trimester was 'AIDS and self esteem'. AIDS/HIV has also been a theme in Chiko's work as has the land issue and the ex-combatants issue, also both of relevance and interest to the UNAM students.

· To provide artists with the opportunity to work in different media, to try new directions and to risk breaking new ground.

Chiko has a very particular technique in silk screen-printing, which he has developed over time and was happy to share with the students. His eclectic approach to found imagery and his refreshing improvisation in a medium that can often become restricted by prescribed methods was exciting for the students. The very fact that Chiko rarely makes editions of his prints in the accepted sense broke down preconceptions about printmaking.

· To establish links between local artists and artists from the region and abroad.

Chiko, being an artist from the region shared many of the interests of the students but brought a different perspective to discussions. In addition his international experience both as a student and as a professional artist broadened the student's horizons but introduced a critical regional appraisal of the international scene that was immensely valuable to them.

The role of an artist in residence is highly beneficial to the students. Although all members of staff in the department are practicing artists they are nonetheless and unavoidably in a teacher student relationship which is inherently unequal. An artist in residence can build a relation with the students that avoids such distinctions. Chiko himself often commented that his relationship with his students in Harare was of necessity quite different and I believe that he found the change in relationship stimulating.

Following from this residency the department has become very receptive to the artist in residence concept and looks forward positively to the opportunity of welcoming another artist in residence in the near future."

Report by Cathy McRoberts

Acting Head of Department, Visual Arts
University of Namibia 2002