Richmore Tera Arts Correspondent
VISUAL artist Kudakwashe Madamombe, son to the late internationally renowned sculptor Colleen Madamombe, has carved a semi-abstract sculpture titled “You Broke My Heart” depicting a grieving Vice President Joice Mujuru following the death of her

husband Solomon Mujuru.

The 1,3 metre-tall artifact was carved in opal and resembles the image of VP Mujuru holding a flower as a symbol of her undying love for her late husband who died in an inferno at his Ruzambo Farm in Beatrice.
Kudakwashe (27) said he decided to carve the piece as a tribute to Mai Mujuru and as a way of commiserating with her on her loss.

“To us, Mai Mujuru is like a mother and when she lost her husband we were touched and opted to sculpt this piece which we intend to hand over to her.
“When we see Mai Mujuru, we see an epitome of a true Zimbabwean and African woman who is resilient, strong, courageous and inspirational despite the loss she faced through the death of her husband,”  explained Kudakwashe.

He added that he also decided to do the piece together with his two young brothers — Washington (24) and Lewanika (22) — because VP Mujuru, in a big way, reminded them of the principles that their late mother stood for.

“Our mother Colleen (Madamombe) was also committed to women’s rights and the role they play in society. This is the vision that we are taking over and we feel very inspired by the contribution that Mai Mujuru is making in Zimbabwe and on the African continent.
“We have learnt that women too can be successful in all spheres of life,” Kudakwashe said.

The sculpture, that weighs about 1 000 kilogrammes, tells it all, not only in its title, “You Broke My Heart” but also in the posture that the artists rendered in it — that of a sorrowful woman.
It is also a direct expression of how General Mujuru’s untimely death took her by surprise, thus causing her untold suffering.

In the sculpture, VP Mujuru is dressed in a top and skirt that are adorned in heart-shaped and flower designs, two symbols that denote undying love and at the same time, a feeling of mourning.
“Through this sculpture we want generations to come to always remember that there was once a great man and a great woman, who contributed enormously to this country’s history,” he said.

Kudakwashe’s professional sculpting career began in 2002 after finishing high school at Kutama College in Zvimba. But before that, his passion for art had started at an early age during his days at Widdecombe Primary School in Harare, where he would take time away from books to visit his sculpting parents Colleen and father Fabion — who is still alive and based at Chapungu Sculpture Village.

It was then that he started dabbling in art.
His two sisters — Alice (19) and Tsitsi (17) — are fashion designers, a clear indication that art runs in the family.
“It is our aim through our work to keep women’s vision alive,” said Kudakwashe, whose pieces focus mainly on women.
Some of these works include “Woman on Shopping Spree (My Life)”, “Breastfeeding” and “Family Reunion” among others.