A CRAMMED and neglected room at Harare Polytechnic could not have passed for an arts studio for renowned sculptor Tapfuma Gutsa when he was based in Vienna, Austria, a few years ago.
Godwin Muzari
The multi-talented visual artist has visited international arts colleges and galleries in addition to taking part at prestigious exhibitions as he floated on a success wave stirred by years of unmatched creativity.
Armed with such wealthy creative experience, Gutsa is very much aware of the appropriate treatment and ideal working environment an artist of his stature deserves.
He saw it in Belgium, experienced it in England and felt it in the United States as he rose from one glory to another at the peak of his career.
Sadly, Gutsa has no option, but reflect on those years as a forgone bright chapter of his career as he spends every day holed up in this Harare Polytechnic room he calls his studio.
NewsDay recently visited Gutsa at this studio to monitor his progress — or lack of it as it emerged — since he returned from his Austria base in 2009.
Clad in old jean shorts, collarless shirt and sandals, apparently to beat the simmering heat in the small studio on a scorching summer afternoon, Gutsa sat staring blankly at a computer monitor.
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Alexio Kawara’s music played in the background as the renowned sculptor played a solitaire card game on his computer. Two young artists in the studio were busy painting their pieces in silence. Gutsa’s mind seemed to wander in a distant wilderness.
“I am happy with this place because I cannot afford to rent a bigger place for a studio,” Gutsa began his tale.
“The industry (visual arts) is down at the moment and survival is tough for most of us. There are no buyers for our work and we are struggling to get income. We live on passion for our art and hope that things will get better one day.”
Gutsa said the arrangement with the college to have him as artist in residence was good. He wishes other colleges would also take in resident artists for the benefit of art students and the artists.
However, for a man with collections of imposing sculptures in internationally recognised galleries like Dailer Mann Gallery in Belgium, October Gallery in England and Reece Gallery in the United States, Gutsa’s situation is pathetic.
It is unimaginable to juxtapose his flowery history of touring more than half of Europe and many parts of the United States with his daily routine at this academic institution.
“When we are working with wood or stone we usually work outside, but most of the time we are indoors. We are limited in many ways, but our passion keeps us going.
“I keep on sculpting because that is my calling. I believe an artist is like a priest. Even if there is no congregation, the priest has to make his prayers.”
However, because he is a multi-talented artist, Gutsa can survive on sales of jewelry and bags that he designs at the studio.
Gutsa is one of the country’s internationally-revered sculptors and is well-known for setting up the Surprise Arts Centre in Shurungwi with his estranged Austrian wife Nicole Field.
Gutsa’s dream was to make that arts centre flourishing, but his dream was shattered when the country’s economy took a nosedive. He had to relocate to Austria with his family when conditions became unbearable. Surprise Arts Centre is now desolate save for one sect that has been turned into a grocery shop.
Gutsa returned home after separating from Nicole. It has not been the proverbial “home sweet home” for the artist because his trade has been downtrodden.
