ZIMBABWEANS are now showing interest in metal sculptures, a Newlands-based sculptor Amos Mupando has said.
TINASHE SIBANDA
Mupando said prominent figures and businesspeople with large spaces at their homes had become some of their regular clients. “A lot of people tend to buy bird sculptures and this is probably because it is the most common creature found in any garden,” Mupando said.
Mupando said his dilemma was that his trade does not bring in cash frequently meaning there was no specific cost for their wares and they sometimes ended up negotiating and charging according to the buyer’s status.
“I am grateful to the city council as they recently decreased the rates we have to pay to sell from this place on realising that we no longer make much,” Mupando said. He said although tourism had been on the low, once in a while they sell their pieces to foreigners from countries such as Netherlands, USA, England, France and China among others which keeps them hopeful.
Together with his colleague Robson Kanyera from Mbare’s Chinembiri Arts and Craft Centre who has been conducting business at Newlands since 1994, the sculptors said it was high time the government assisted them to take part in various local and international exhibitions.
Kanyera said between 1990 and 2006 their business was highly profitable, but has now become disheartening so much that they have now resorted to selling small pieces.
“The National Gallery accepts our pieces for resale but usually it is a major loss for us because as soon as they take their markup from a sold piece we are left with next to nothing so we resort to working independently,” he said.
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Kanyera said at least the scrap metal used in making the various artefacts was easily accessible, but they struggled to market their finished goods.
