FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Return of the Zimbabwean sculptors
Summer 2006
Talented
sculptors from Zimbabwe exhibited in Cannizaro's
Italian Garden for a second consecutive year
in June/July.
Opening times were 11am until 7.30 pm from Monday to Friday and from 9am
until 7.30 pm at weekends.
Among the exhibitors invited for the first time to the UK was Brian Watyoka (left), one of Zimbabwe's most prominent emerging artists today. He specialises in carvings of women going about their daily lives.
Other works on show included "Hiding" by Wimbai Mashaya (right) and "Hopeful" by Jonathan Mhondorohuma (below left).
Zimbabwe’s Shona stone sculpture has been compared to the works of Brancusi, Modigliani, Picasso and others who were inspired by African art. After 500 years of lost tradition, stone sculpting in Zimbabwe has begun again and is recognised as unique in world class art. The country has a wider variety of hard stone than anywhere else in the world.
Brian was one of three leading sculptors especially invited to represent their works and interact daily with visitors in Cannizaro Park throughout the exhibition. He is among 2 million recent victims of the Mugabe regime hit by government demolition of "illegal structures". With his wife and two children, he was made homeless and had to seek refuge with relatives in a rural area. Amid the chaos he also had his car hijacked and mobile phone stolen. He was at his wits end when invited to the exhibition and given the opportunity to show his work abroad.
As last year, the show displayed more than 100 sculptures and a number of Merton schools received free carving workshops. Entrance was free and the works available for sale from £10 to £4200. Unlike last year's Cannizaro show, which was seriously damaged by vandals and survived because of support from the Friends and other local residents, this year's event was protected by 24-hour security.
For more information about the exhibition contact Vivienne Prince on 0774860 5011 or go to www.zimsculpt.com. The event was arranged in co-ordination with Arts Development Merton.
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