One such artist is Danisile Ncube. He has been in the art business for some time and has taken his trade to Botswana where he stayed for a long time.StandardLife&Style (LS) repor-ter Khulani Nkabinde had a chat with the Bulawayo-based metal sculptor who spoke about his passion for creativity.
LS: How would you describe yourself as an artist?
DN: I am very creative. I am not bragging but I just love to create.
LS: You work predominantly in metal sculpture, why?
DN: It is mainly because it is easy to join pieces. The work lasts almost forever. Metal sculpture also carries a lot of “weight”.
LS: To a novice, how would you define metal sculpture?
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
DN: First of all, it is a work of art in metal. It could be abstract, fine art, figurative or shapes. It could be any piece of art done using metal.
LS: What inspires your work?
DN: My surroundings, life and the universe. It could be challenges that people face or current affairs. Nature also inspires me a lot.
LS: Tell us about the process of creating any art piece?DN: It all depends on the art piece being worked on. If it is a human figure, I have to start by sketching and then do the framework. After that, I add “flesh” using clay. The outer part is then done using metal.
LS: You have exhibited in a number of countries. Of all these, which one would you say appreciates the art more?
DN: A lot of my art works are in the Netherlands. They seem to appreciate my art work a lot there. There are also some of my pieces in other European countries.
LS: What is your latest work all about?
DN: It is a metal sculpture piece I did last year entitled Trust in no nobles- Exodus Chapter 1. It was a mixed media that I did using a tractor tyre and metal to create an image of a dollar sign. The message I was putting across was: why should I trust in nobles when they are mortal like me?
LS: What do you do when not carving pieces?
DN: I cannot stop creating art pieces. If I am not doing a metal piece then I will be engaged in another medium. I do 13 disciplines in art.
LS: Any artists that you looked up to when starting out?DN: Yes. My mentor is Adam Madebe who did the controversial nude metal sculpture entitled Looking into the future that was at the gallery’s foyer.
The stature was sadly pulled down by the police last year after they came to close down Owen Maseko’s Gukurahundi exhibition. We must stop politicising art as a nation. Art works must just be left as they are. They are simply works of self expression. I was also inspired by David Ndlovu. He is the one who taught me welding.
