'Conversations with Heeten Bhagat': 27th July 2011

On behalf of The Campus Creative Arts Committee (CCAC) Sharon Waterworth warmly welcomed students, parents, teachers and friends to the latest Art Talk at Hellenic International Academy entitled: 'Conversations with Heeten Bhagat'.

She expressed her gratitude to the CCAC for providing and serving the refreshments and extended special thanks to Mrs Haley Blanchfield for organizing the food and drink and to Mr Geoff Goss for very kindly donating the Roberston’s wine.

Sharon then introduced Heeten who has been working in the arts industry since 1997. He started as a costume designer for foreign films and then progressed on to establish his own production company that specialises in short films, documentaries, music videos and art films. Heeten also served as the Curator at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe which is where Sharon had the pleasure of meeting and working with him.

As a creative professional Heeten investigates and realizes the innate potential in the arts. With an initial training in design, he has developed the skills to examine and re-interpret the world and find new and original ways to document creative processes for current and future generations of artists including for those aspiring artists present here today.

His over-arching passion is education and currently is working at conceptualizing projects that aim to help locate and develop the innate creativity of youth.

Currently he is consulting for several creative organizations and continues his education work as a visiting lecturer at several universities and polytechnics, locally and abroad. The interdisciplinary of his experience has afforded an eclectic and significant development of skills that are valuable in developing creative and original projects for the world we live in.

The art talk was conducted by Laren Dent and Chrissy O’Riordan in an ‘interview style’ with Heeten answering questions that students had prepared. Then the audience also had a chance to participate and interact when Natasha Rusch went out and took questions for Heeten from the floor.

Amongst others topics Heeten spoke on the role of Curating, the value of contemporary art in Zimbabwe and about film making.

Before closing the evening, Greg Shaw noted the fact that Heeten had engaged with the students directly, given the nature of the talk, and pointed out that amidst the audience, there were a number of art teachers from other schools, artists, as well as graphic designers, another film maker and a Michaelis graduate in the audience, each that would have had a vest interest in the talk. Subsequent discussion with those present reveals a positive reception to the event.