Square Chikwanda Explained

Square Chikwanda (born 1972) is a Zimbabwean sculptor, living and working in Harare, Zimbabwe. He first learned his art from his father, also a Zimbabwean sculptor.

Short Biography

Born in Mvurwi, Chikwanda moved to the Tengenenge Sculpture Community with his father at the age of seven.^[1] There his father taught him at an early age to wash and polish stone. He finished primary school and learned the art of sculpture to become a full-time artist at the age of thirteen, developing his own style. At the Community he had several students, of whom Jonathan Mhondorohuma became a good friend. In 1993 he left the community to work in Harare at the Chapungu Sculpture Park. At this Park, Chikwanda continued expanding his artistic know-how, which made him one of the leading Harare sculptors. Chikwanda now (2006) works on his own in Chitungwiza, a Harare suburb.^[2] His work has been exhibited worldwide.

Style

Chikwanda's sculptures deal mostly with portraits and animals e.g. "Blind Portrait",^[3] Berlin, Germany or "Hippo",^[4] Tengenenge, Zimbabwe. His figures are generally very square and stylised : arms, legs and fingers are often square and show hard lines; noses have knife sharp edges. His sculptures remind indeed the art-deco figures of the 1930-1940 and are always polished to a high degree of perfection. He uses local Zimbabawean stone, including springstone.^[5]

References

• Biographical sketch
• Friends for ever Zimbabwe
• Exhibition Catalogue Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, 2006
• Tengenenge-Tomblomefield Museum
• Afrika Museum Berg en Daal

Bibliography

• -, "Contemporary Master Sculptors of Zimbabwe", Ruwa, Zimbabwe 2007, p. 57;

Recent exhibitions

• Annual Heritage Exhibition, National Gallery, Harare, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1997.
• Museum for Humour and Satire, Bucharest, Bulgaria, 1988.
• National South-African Gallery, Overport, Durban, South Africa, 1991.
• Master Sculptors Of Zimbabwe, Art Center an der Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, Germany, October – December 2006
• Mestres Escultors de Zimbabwe, Museo Comarcal, Montsia d'Amposta, Spain, 21 May-21 June 2009.
• Master Sculptors Of Zimbabwe, Boserup Gallery, Boserupvej 100, Roskilde, Denmark, February 2010.
• Master Sculptors Of Zimbabwe, Sanomatalo Building, Helsinki, Finland, March 2010.
• Master Sculptors Of Zimbabwe, Friends For Ever Gallery, Friedrichstrasse 134, Berlin, Germany, May 2010.

Permanent Collections

• Museum of Tengenenge, Zimbabwe.
• Chapungu Sculpture Park, Harare, Zimbabwe.
• Africa Museum, Berg en Dal, The Netherlands.

Notes and References

1. -, "Contemporary Master Sculptors of Zimbabwe", Ruwa, Zimbabwe 2007, p.57;
2. -, "Meister Bildhauer aus Simbabwe", Art Center Berlin Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, Germany, Oktober – Dezember 2006, p.24-27 (catalogue)
3. Square Chikwanda, "Blind Portrait", Springstone, 55 cm x 14 cm x 23 cm.
4. Square Chikwanda, "Hippo", Springstone, 18 cm × 31 cm × 33 cm.
5. Web site: 'Collection of Sculptures'. 2021-03-03. mangiacane.com.