Sculptor Arlington Muzondo launched an exhibition of his art works last weekend at Alliance Française de Bulawayo entitled Reflections in Stone.
Muzondo told NewsDay he was trained in stone sculpting by his uncle, Joseph Muzondo, while still at school. He began sculpting full-time in 1995 at Chapungu Sculpture Park in Harare.
Muzondo said he draws inspiration for his works from Zimbabwean culture, history and heritage.
“When I get a rock to work on it is a feeling that can be compared to love at first sight, then I simply mirror what I see around me — the people and their emotions.
“Certain moments in Zimbabwean history are captured in my works of art and some exhibit emotions which are in line with what Zimbabweans experience and have experienced,” he said.
Muzondo said his pieces are not only in stone, but he blends them with metal, wood and glass.
“My first love is stone although I also do works in metal, wood and glass to complement the stone pieces,” he said.
He has exhibited 35 pieces of his sculpture which he has worked on for the past 10 years. The rocks he uses are jasper, opal, fruit stone and serpentine.
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Muzondo said his favourite sculpture is entitled Candles in the Wind, which depicts a couple which has separated due to HIV and Aids.
In the piece, the couple is shown with twisted backbones, making them face different directions, showing how this disease has affected many love lives in Zimbabwe.
Muzondo has previously exhibited both nationally and internationally including at Harare International Arts Festival, Bulawayo’s Intwasa Arts Festival, Isigodlo Samakhosi and Kristin Diehl Exhibition.
He has also won several awards including the Kristin Diehl Sculpture Prize in 2002, Furniture Filling the Gap in 2001 and Visual Arts Association of Bulawayo first prize in 2000.
Muzondo’s work is in Chapungu Sculpture Park’s permanent collection of and in private collections in Belgium, France, United States of America, United Kingdom, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
