Shadow Birds
3045
$650.00 USD
Type of stone: Spring Stone
Dimensions: 33 x 11 x 13 inches
In Shona culture, Mumvuri the shadow, depicts the presence of a spiritual protector. Shona traditional belief is that everything that has got a physical body also has a spiritual shadow.
The birds and their shadows in the sculpture tell the story of this relationship of humanity with spirituality. None goes where the other cannot go and none can exist without the other. In the Shona culture, Vadzimu the ancestors are the spiritual protectors, and they mediate
MORE ABOUT THE STONE:
Every sculpture is made from natural stone and vary slightly due to nature of stone and natural grain which is part of the stone. Some stone will contain inclusions, pits or fissures as a result of its geological formation. The natural recurring iron/seaweed strata lines in the stone give the stone its character and makes it unique.
Natural lines are colorful lines formed within the stone. These are not flaws, but rather signifies the authenticity of the product. Only skilled sculptors are able to work with the stone due its hardness. The stone can withstands harsh weather conditions and can be placed in a natural environment.
NOTE: Typically your sculpture will ship within 2-3 days after you've placed your order.
ALEXANDER CHITUNGO
Born in 1969, in Marondera, Zimbabwe He attended High School at Prince Edward School in Harare and finished Ordinary Level in 1986.
He developed an interest in sculpture in 1990 trained as an apprentice under Tonderai Murenzva and Lincoln Muteta, who are renowned artists in their own rights.
In a space of two years, it was apparent that Alexander had attained enough exposure and experience and subsequently felt confident enough to develop his own unique style which he named Shadows in the Stone (Muvhuri Mudombo). He has a theme that resonates in all his works. He calls this thematic content Voices of Reality
What are Shona Sculptures?
The most dedicated of artists display a high degree of integrity, never copying and still working entirely by hand, with spontaneity and a confidence in their skills, unrestricted by externally imposed ideas of what their "art" should be. Now, over fifty years on from the first tentative steps towards a new sculptural tradition, many Zimbabwean artists make their living from full-time sculpting and the very best can stand comparison with contemporary sculptors anywhere else.
The sculpture they produce speaks of fundamental human experiences - experiences such as grief, elation, humor, anxiety, and spiritual search - and has always managed to communicate these in a profoundly simple and direct way that is both rare and extremely refreshing.
The artist 'works' together with his stone, and it is believed that 'nothing which exists naturally is inanimate' - it has a spirit and life of its own. One is always aware of the stone's contribution in the finished sculpture and it is indeed fortunate that in Zimbabwe a magnificent range of stones are available from which to choose: hard black springstone, richly colored serpentine and soapstones, firm grey limestone and semi-precious Verdite and Lepidolite.
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Where the Stone is Found
How The Sculptures Are Created
