Top sculptor succumbs to Covid-19 Edronce Rukodzi

Timothy Akuda Arts Correspondent

Just after the loss of top artist Lazarus Takawira early this year, the stone sculpture industry has lost another important sculptor, Edronce Rukodzi.

Rukodzi, who succumbed to Covid-19 whilst in Guruve will be buried today.

His brother Tendai Rukodzi, who is also a seasoned artist, confirmed that his brother succumbed to Covid-19.

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe executive director Raphael Chikukwa has shared his deep thoughts and feelings over this sad loss.

“This winter trees have been shedding their leaves and our art world has been robbed of its icons,” he said. “The double burial we did last week of Gallery Delta owners Helen Lieros and Derek Huggins, the two love birds who changed the Zimbabwean art scene, was historic.

“Early this year we lost one of the prominent artist Lazarus Takawira and today we mourn Edronce Rukodzi. This winter has not only been about shedding tree leaves, but also about our art communities, journalists, politicians and families across Zimbabwe and the world at large.

“The National Gallery of Zimbabwe management and its board send condolences to all those that have lost their families and friends and to our artists who are our biggest stakeholder. And in this particular instance to the Rukodzi family, we share your lose.”

Rukodzi was born in 1952 in Guruve.

He rose to fame in the 1990s when his works began to receive international attention, though his beginnings are traced back to the 1970s in Tengenenge.

He was introduced to sculpture by his close relative Henry Munyaradzi when back then he used to sculpt during his spare time.

His work forms part of the permanent collection displayed at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport alongside works by great artists like Nicholas Mukomberanwa, Dominic Benhura and Agnes Nyanhongo.

His sculptures are unique and easily identified through small, but neat intricate lines that run in different directions and at times forming beautiful patterns.

He would leave much of the sculpture in that state and only focus on putting a finely finished and polished face.

Different international art collectors fell in love with his works in the 1980s, but he had his breakthrough in the early 1990s.

Rukodzi exhibited in different parts of the world mainly in Europe and America where he visited very often and conducted several workshops.

He is survived by his wife and five children.

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