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African Gallery
Shona sculpture; an art forged from mankinds famous first material: stone. Described as primitive, abstract and original, Shona Sculpture ranges from tiny, stylised mother and child figures, artist signature pieces - dreaming maidens, thinkers, spring lovers, - to finely detailed wildlife and people.
Individual carvers have distinct styles and techniques, favourite subjects and recurring motifs proving that stone sculpture is as unique as artform as painting or imagemaking. Expression and creativity in a tactile and immediate form.
The stones used are Soapstones, Serpentines and
Opalites giving huge scope of textures and colours. Liquid black
Serpentines, fleched and veined yellos, greens, goldens and greys,
spotted soapstones and earthy browns and red rapokos complement
the form or image represented.
Worldwide, people are drawn to Shona sculpture,
perhaps its the obvious craftmanship and talent in the work, or
a sense of familiarity in the natural shapes and contours - a "harking
back to our primitive origins", or its popularity may just
be due to its unaffected, eternal, beauty.
Artists
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Shona artists
quarry local stones such as Springstone, Serpentine, Soapstone,
Malachite, Steatite Verdite and Opalite.
When sculpting the
artists do not mark or draw on the stone but follow the form
of the stone. The stone itself dictates to the artist the
subject hidden within. |
The carving is done with the most basic of hand tools, hammer, chisel, files and wet and dry sand paper.
When the sculpture is finished it is placed near a fire and warmed before applying a coat of beeswax or polish to draw out the colours, finish and textures of the stone. More about the sculpting process.
The Stone
The stone sculptors of Zimbabwe use a variety of
stone types from the hardest Springstone, through Verdite, Serpentine,
Opalite, Malachite to Soapstones.
The many colours formed by trace minerals and elements
range from deep blues and greens to gold, orange and black serpentines,
the purples of cobalt all form part of the magic and mystery of
this magnificent contemporary art form. Shona Sculpture has its
roots in all parts of Zimbabwean culture from the ancient stone
carvings of Great Zimbabwe to the modern sculptures that today grace
many of the world's great houses and museums.
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