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The Herald, 6 July 1997

THE just-ended African-American summit was godsend to David Mutasa, one of Zimbabwe’s leading sculptors, who is now set to stamp his imprint on the highly competitive visual art landscape in the United States

Mutasa, better known for his artworks on the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles and legendary Shona high priestess Mbuya Nehanda, will soon go on a tour of the US to publicise his craft in a series of workshops.

“I made a lot of contacts at this summit. There are people who are going to promote my work in the United States and organise tours,” said Mutasa, owner of the Nyati Gallery, about 20km south-west of the capital, Harare.

“I have never been to the United States, and I am not known there as a person.

“I am only known in the United Kingdom and so is my work. I therefore want to do some workshops in the US.”

Mutasa first hit newspaper headlines in Britain in 1990 when he sculpted a bust of Prince Charles, cast in bronze, which was donated to the Zimbabwe Government to elaborate the 10th anniversary of Independence.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

David Mutasa’s remarkable works of art include:

1. A monument to an unknown freedom fighter at the Zanu PF HQ, which was done around 1984;

2. Statues of Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi in Parliament, done in the early 1980s;

3. Work on the Eastern Plate at the National Heroes’ Acre;

4. Breaking the chains of oppression — 1985;

5. Giant cross embedded on a map of Africa at the World Council of Churches — 1998;

6. Statue of Hector Pieterson the first child who died during the Soweto Uprisings — 1989;

7. Father Zimbabwe Dr Joshua Nkomo’s statue — work commenced in 2000 and the statue was unveiled on Unity Day in 2013, in Bulawayo.

Internationally, Zimbabwe is a leader in sculpture. Apart from Mutasa, the country has produced renowned stone and metal sculptors who are internationally recognised.

Sculpture is not only an art form. It is also big business that should be marketed to international art collectors.

As an art form, sculpture depicts the country’s history and culture.