happiness Chikwanha
Kumbirayi Shoniwa
Entertainment Reporter
It took four strong men to carry the unique granite portrait of the President of Zimbabwe up to its recipient on a day which Clemence Maregedze (23) says he will never forget.On November 7 2013 the young artist was granted an audience with his Excellency President Mugabe to present his stunning creation in person at Zanu-PF Headquarters.
Maregedze was short of words as he described how his lifetime dream of meeting the President came true thanks to the exceptional drawing he made on a slab of black granite.
“Cde Mugabe is my personal role model and my portrait is a sign of appreciation to him and what he has done for our beautiful country.
“As a gifted artist I took time to exploit our God-given natural resources to create something which nobody else had thought of making before,” he said.
The engraving is life size and is a replica of an actual portrait of the President which the artist painstakingly copied onto the massive piece of black stone.
Born in Harare, Maregedze attended Lord Malvern School in Waterfalls and enjoys drawing, watching soccer, playing chess and listening to music.
He is the first born in a family of three boys and three girls and his father does tombstone designs and engravings for a living.
“I grew up drawing on paper like ordinary artists until I decided to experiment and use granite as my canvas. From there I have developed a niche that’s why I drew a portrait of the President to show my unique talent,” he added.
At his workshop in Waterfalls the young engraver makes a living designing tombstone inscriptions but he has now set his sights on pursuing a career in granite stone drawings even though they are more time consuming.
He is promising more this year.
Online Reporter