Kupira
Medium
PaintingMaterial
Oil PaintDescription
thi sis the text for Kupira This powerful painting draws from the Zimbabwean totem (mutupo) tradition, where animals represent identity, ancestry, and spiritual protection. The central figure is a woman whose body merges with a zebra, symbolizing harmony, adaptability, and pride. The zebra is a totemic animal in many Shona clans and stands here as a visual metaphor for the deep connection between human and spirit, woman and ancestor. Her open arms and clay pot evoke nourishment and ritual, while the painted hands and feet around her suggest ancestral presence and guidance. This work honors the belief that one’s totem is not only heritage but a spiritual compass, passed through blood and embodied in everyday acts of strength, grace, and cultural continuity.Try it!
