Moffat Takadiwa Transforms Zimbabwe's Plastic Waste into Tapestries of Extraction and Repair

Moffat Takadiwa, an artist based in Harare, constructs large wall pieces and installations using discarded plastic items—such as bottle caps, computer keys, toothbrush heads, buttons, combs, and nail polish components—collected from local dumps and a clothing factory. His studio is located in Mbare, a prominent recycling center. These creations, resembling textiles, shields, or oversized accessories, address themes of colonial trade, consumerism, and environmental harm. Notable works include 'Propaganda Devices' (2025), 'Blared Vision', 'White Circle', 'Re-Reading Korekore' (2022), 'Combed Hair', 'Pink Nails', 'The Crown (2)' (2026), and 'Muchapihwa Korona' (2026). In 2023, 'Vestiges of Colonialism' was exhibited at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Takadiwa’s approach, termed 'radical softness', emphasizes transforming mass-produced waste into a narrative of repair, highlighting the consequences of colonialism and global trade disparities.