Shona sculpture is a contemporary art form that emerged onto the international stage in the 1950s.
Stone sculpting has been part of Zimbabwean culture for centuries, evidenced in the archaeological masterpiece,
the Great Zimbabwe, which dates back to 1200 AD.
The subject matter of the sculptures comes from the natural world and the spirit world which explains the
frequent enlargement of the head, being the location of the Spirit.
The artists rarely sculpt with any preconceived ideas but let the stone dictate what form is held within it.
Each piece is therefore unique.
THE ARTIST FIRST CUTS THE STONE INTO THE ROUGH SHAPE OF THE PIECE.
A SERIES OF SMALLER CHISELS ARE THEN USED TO DEFINE THE EXACT SHAPE OF THE SCULPTURE. THE SCULPTURE IS HEATED NEXT TO AN OPEN FIRE BEFORE BEESWAX IS APPLIED; THE WAX BRINGS OUT THE NATURAL COLOUR OF THE STONE.