Inspiration and artist

artists wondering if ever their decision to become such was a good one. This is much so because when most people are faced with economic challenges they quickly turn away from art and this is so exacerbated by the fact that some people classify art as a luxury.
History has proved that it is indeed very difficult to define art but to classify it under luxury is completely missing the point. Some countries have an independent ministry of art in a more meaningful way.
Economic challenges have never been a thing confined to our day. Back in the seventies, stone sculptors faced almost similar challenges when Zimbabwe was hit by sanctions because Ian Douglas Smith had declared unilateral independence without the approval of his colonial authorities in England.
The sanctions made it almost impossible for the arts sector in Zimbabwe, especially the stone sculpture movement to move as art collectors found it difficult to make shipments from Zimbabwe.
The founder of Tengenenge did not continue mining chrome as he was affected by these sanctions but it is really amazing to realise that even during those turbulent times, the stone sculpture movement continued to grow with master pieces being created.
These were the years when artists like Damian Manhuwa and Henry Munyaradzi made pieces such pieces like “Arms Control” and “The First Man on the Moon” respectively.
Without doubt their inspiration was greatly affected by the economic challenges but that did not deter them from working. They were indeed pressed in every way but not cramped beyond movement. They did not stop working because they wanted inspiration to find them working and this love for art later paid off as most of the artists became successful.
It is such love that forced Henry Munyaradzi to carry inside the house that unfinished sculpture and put it under the bed so that he could try to find a solution during the night.
This is also why Nicholas Mukomberanwa would bury some pieces he thought needed adjustments only to dig them up later to finish them. Such inspiration can never be measured and it is only a possession of those who acquire it through hard work.