Mukanganyama to hold expos in Europe, America

America.
He leaves Zimbabwe for his tour this weekend.
The 26-year-old sculptor said he was excited to be exhibiting in Europe for the first time in his career.
“This is my first overseas exhibition and I am happy about it,” said Mukanganyama.
The sculptor said the exhibition presents him with an opportunity to introduce and market his trademark – Mukanga art – inspired by natural surroundings found in the luxuriant bushes and mountains in Zimbabwe.
Mukanganyama, who began his career at the age of seven in Chiweshe, has shown great potential in the sculpting circles.
He said his major breakthrough came in 2007 when he sold a piece titled “Toga” for US$2 000.
Some of Mukanganyama’s prominent pieces include designs of the mushroom plant, which he presents in different poses and sizes.
He said his preoccupation was to carve objects that are peculiarly African.
His powerful designs of human figures, plants and animals are celebratory of the beauty of God’s creation.
Popular with overseas buyers are Mukanganyama’s narratory sculptures that portray life of African people – the imaginary pre-history and contemporary world.
A piece titled “We are more African if we unite” reflects the underlying theme of the spirit of pan-Africanism as the hall mark of African existence and development.
This intelligent picturesque takes the tenor of ideas extolled in pan-African literature – the ideological perspective in this movement had peace and unity at it’s core.
Another piece titled “Chief”, is reflective of the important role traditional chiefs play in the development of rural communities.
The village chief, with his wool
hat hanging primly on his head is more or less a village philosopher – whom on
his feet rests the attentive youths of the village enjoying the chief’s intelligent talk.
Also forming part of Mukanganyama’s sculpture litany are the traditional women in different postures, some with their babies hanging on their backs, others breastfeeding while others engage in daily chores.
There is beauty of presentation in Mukanganyama’s sculptures, which are more than telling of the ways of life of African people.
Pieces like “Ghetto Youth” , “Gang Stars” exposits the contemporary urban life in the sprawling ghetto suburbs.
Mukanganyama said he understands the changing times and life of the African people thus his work aims on animating these changes on stone.
“I always try to picture the life of African people throughout the stages of history – this is ‘Mukanga art’,” he said.
There is also the animal wild. Here Mukanganyama pictures animals in their communities of existence, elephants, buffaloes, lions, kudus including birds are shown in various engaged in various activities of their existence.
Mukanganyama said his tour of Europe and America would present him with the opportunity to understand the demands of overseas market.