ZANA MASOMBUKA IN INNESTI CONTEMPORANEI

As part of ArtVerona, from October 9 to 11 2026, the exhibition Innesti Contemporanei took place, in wich Zana Masombuka exhibited two works.

From October the 9th to the 11th 2026 took place Innesti Contemporanei, a group exhibition curated by Luca Panaro and presented by the Nadia Zenato ETS Foundation on the occasion of ArtVerona. Works by artists Rebecca Moccia, Zana Masombuka, and Annalaura Tamburrini were exhibited, and the show was held inside the Capitol Library of Verona, the oldest functioning library in the world.

The Capitol Library of Verona holds over 1,200 ancient manuscripts and thousands of printed texts from rare and prestigious editions. It was already praised as the «queen of ecclesiastical collections» by paleographer Elias Avery Lowe (1879–1969), and today it remains the oldest library still in activity. This venue made it possible to create a dialogue between different aspects that seem apparently in contrast, including: ancient and contemporary traits, traditions coming from different parts of the world, the memory preserved in this place and the research of young artists. The works included in this context do not lead to the ancient trait being overpowered by the contemporary one, rather, the co-presence of heterogeneous aspects allows for a new reading perspective of the various historical and artistic masterpieces on display.

The exhibited artists propose diverse artistic languages: tapestries derived from thermal photographs by Rebecca Moccia, performative portraits by Zana Masombuka, and blue cyanotypes by Annalaura Tamburrini. In the Treasure Room (Sala dei tesori), among liturgical books and an choir book from the 14th century, two works by Zana Masombuka (Siyabuswa, 1995) were exhibited. The artist's works contain elements and symbols from the Ndebele tradition, participating in a process of re-appropriation of the narrative about the African population. Zana Masombuka is the winner of the last edition of the Fondazione Nadia Zenato Award, and her shots are taken in a performative process where she is simultaneously director and subject. Her works are characterized by vivid colors and the presence of traditional beadwork that often covers the artist's face and body. These works were presented alongside manuscripts and paintings originating from a time and territory very far away. Through the contrast that was created, they invite the viewer to investigate how human artistic techniques have evolved over time and promote a dialogue between values and customs of vastly different cultures.