Tengenenge now one of biggest sculpture gardens in the country

The Herald, 17 April 2004
HIDDEN in the mountains of Guruve is Tengenenge Sculpture Village, the home of sculpture hosting more than 50 stone carvers.

The sculptors can be seen filing or chiselling stone blocks as they begin shaping images or putting final touches to their semi-finished sculptures.

Finished stone images are displayed on about five hectares of land.

A visitor to the place is quickly attracted to larger-than-life stone figures gathering around a metal board written “Victor Fire.”

Victor is the 2004 Nama Best Sculptor award winner and his pieces are outstanding, confirming his sculpting prowess.

He has been in the sculpting business since a tender age and sees the award as a “fruit” of hard work.

“I have been sculpting for a long time now. I started the art when I was very young and I now have a passion for it.

“It is a hobby and a source of income for me,” explained Victor.

He thanked Nama organisers for recognising his efforts, and to register his appreciation, he donated a sculpture called “The King” to the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.

NACZ assistant director Elvas Mari received the donation on behalf of the council during a tour to the village.

Victor encouraged other artists at the village to work hard and sustain themselves through their art.

Most of the sculptors interviewed at Tengenenge said stone carving was their sole source of income and they have made the village their second home.

They said the location of the village in a secluded bush gave them an important link with nature.

It also gives the village a mystic appearance to sculpture collectors who regularly visit to buy sculptures.

Collectors from countries like Germany, United Kingdom and France come to buy the sculptures which range from $100 000 to $3 million per piece.

For many sculptors at the village, the art that they started out of interest has become lucrative business.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

Artists through the help of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe should consider digital exhibitions and marketing which has the following advantages:

1. The ability to draw on greater authority rankings that help them appear higher on search engine results.
2. The ability to reach a wider clientele base, compared to physical visits by buyers.
3. The online art market is growing considerably, and with online art sales on the rise, it is proving to be an increasingly fruitful avenue for artists, compared to traditional methods for selling art.
4. The more people who see your art, the higher the chances for clinching a sale.
5. You will make more profit selling your art online versus hiring an agent or selling your art at a gallery.
6. Selling art online is a very interactive venture. You are able to connect with people from all walks of life and get some constructive criticism, which is necessary for your growth. The online platforms are interactive in nature allowing likes, comments, and sharing.

Zimbabwe is world-renowned for stone sculpting, and some of its sculptors are working in different countries of the globe.

The art form needs capital injection from both the Government and the private sector, for sustainability.