SHONA STONE SCULPTURES

Shona art from Zimbabwe has found its place in the contemporary African sculpture market. Since the late 1960’s when transportable sculptures were shipped to Europe, with an exhibition at the Rodin Museum in Paris 1971, The Institute of Contemporary Arts in London 1972 and exhibitions in the USA, many Shona artists have made a name for themselves.

My article “Shona Stone Sculpture: Cultural and stylistic Aspects” was published in “Artlook “ June/July 1976 Vol. 9 No 3. In it, I discuss the spiritual aspects of their beliefs, the communication between the living and the dead, inter-family relationships and the important role that animals play in the mystical lives of the people.

This collection focuses on serpentine pieces of lovers, the family, a cubist head, a frog and the metamorphosis of man and nature.

The spring stone pieces depict a woman reaching out in space, a bird stretching its long neck into the open space and a bird enveloped in itself. These contemporary pieces have been created by modern day Africans who draw from their traditional heritage. Whereas previously the myths of Shona folklore were passed down verbally from father to son, they can now be interpreted in stone and preserved for a far wider audience.

Mother and Child	Cubist Figure
Lovers	Mbira or Thumb Piano
Head	Leaning Figure
Cubist Head	Woman

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