"Peace Bird" by the late Albert Mamvura -

Price: $895.00


 


A beautiful and delicate "Peace Bird" by master sculptor, Albert Mamvura--sculpted of an almost pure white Golden Opalstone. Sculpted in 1987. Finely crafted with beautiful design, balance and meaning. Measurements: 10" Tall x 11" Wide
Albert Nathan Mamvura
Albert Mamvura was born in 1954 in the rural Buhera District of Zimbabwe, where he was educated at St. Henry's School and at Makumbi Mission. After leaving school, he worked as a carpenter for several construction companies. His introduction to sculpting in stone came in 1975 from his cousin Nicholas Mukomberanwa, from whom he learned the basic techniques. Mamvura began to sculpt seriously on his own in 1977, and the following year had work accepted by the National Gallery of Zimbabwe for its annual exhibition. Since then he rapidly established himself as a significant artist in his own right. His sculpture has appeared annually in the Nedlaw Exhibition in the National Gallery of Zimbabwe and in group exhibitions in Europe, the United States, and Australia. The expression of social sentiment was perhaps Mamvura's most dominant theme. Frequently his sculptures incorporate figures closely entwined in a protective embrace. Mamvura's works are readily identifiable by his portrayal of the human form, the facial features of which are invariably similar in style. It is the juxtaposition of his figures rather than their features which vary. This reflected his artistic concern with portrayals of Shona attitudes, customs and beliefs, rather than with the portrayal of a distinctive individual personality. Although figurative works remained his staple artistic diet, a number of his later works showed a tendency toward abstraction. These works are testimony to Mamvura's range of vision and creative skill, and to his unwithered natural sense of volume and rhythm. One of Mamvura's sculptures—two figures embracing—was presented by the Government of Zimbabwe as a wedding gift to Prince Charles and Lady Diana; another was selected for presentation to Queen Sofia of Spain, following her visit to Zimbabwe. Albert Mamvura passed away in early 1998. Mamvura's death at the age of 43 robbed Zimbabwe of one of its major artistic talents. However his legacy in the form of a substantial body of work, will continue to remind us of his talent and will remain a constant source of pleasure to his many admirers.