Moffat Takadiwa (born 1983, Tengwe, Zimbabwe) is known for large-scale sculptures, installations and tapestry-like wall works made from discarded materials collected in urban environments, including computer keyboard keys, bottle caps, toothbrushes and other plastic waste. Through his practice, he transforms waste into complex visual structures. He lives and works on the outskirts of Harare in Mbare, one of the largest recycling centers in Zimbabwe and an important hub for the informal economy – his inspirations come from his most immediate environment.
Works from the KoreKore Handwriting series through their titles refer to one of the biggest subgroups of Shona people and their language. Computer keyboard keys, deprived of their practical function, are used for the aesthetic purpose of creating concentric circles – shapes that bring to mind decorative mosaics, ritualistic art or imaginary calligraphy. The KoreKore dialect is nowadays notated in the Latin script, which doesn’t sufficiently reflect the intricacies of its pronunciation. Through his work, Takadiwa visually reshapes the confines of a standardized alphabet questioning the colonial order through commentary both on language and on the global economy of waste. The latter is reinforced by the use of worn out toothbrush heads, which also emphasise the aesthetic dimension of the work. Takadiwa’s use of discarded materials reflects both local realities and broader questions about consumption, value and cultural identity.
