Zimbabwe

Joseph Ndandarika

Zimbabwe, or Shona, stone sculpture is diverse in style and rich in content: diverse because there are no established means of art making, freeing artists to explore; rich because the artists are conveying information about the many aspects of their culture. The most accomplished sculptors, all the Zimbabwe artists in the gallery, are recognized and collected internationally. These artists are listed as a group not because they work in a similar way but rather because they have all benefited from the philosophy of Frank McEwen, the founder of the artists’ movement. Frank felt that creativity could not be taught but rather only encouraged. He was available for materials, criticism (no artist should dare reference another artist’s work or his own past work, for that matter) and encouragement. He encouraged the artists to look for inspiration in their spiritual life, their dream world and the rural and urban life that surrounded them. From the standpoint of pedagogy, this clearly seemed like the ideal way to launch a truly original group of artists; however, Frank’s greatest contribution may well be far more practical. In the late 1950s he opened what might be the first museum store in the lobby of the new National Gallery, of which he was the director, bringing to these new artists financial remuneration for their work, which, in turn, encouraged them to stay with it.