Hand Carved Original Stone Works
The Shona Sculpture movement originated in Zimbabwe and was introduced to the western world in the 1950s. This art form is unique to the Shona people and has become popular worldwide.
Opal stone is a relatively soft, milky-light-green serpentine (although sometimes with a brown undertone) with a fine, smooth texture and near translucent surface. It is often specked with red, orange or blue and the overall appearance can be smooth or mottled.
It’s popular with sculptors as it’s not as hard as Springstone but can still polish to a high finish…revealing a rich colour and beautiful texture.
Springstone is one of the hardest of the Shona stones, with a softer brown outer layer. Although found in several areas, Springstone is mostly mined by hand in the Guruve region.
It is a dark stone and due to its density can be polished up to a high shine. The dark colour of the stone can make for a great contrast when displayed in a light environment and gives works of this material a great weight and presence.
Sapolite is a hard white stone which is sometimes called “White Opal”. However, it is very different from the gemstone. It is not often used by sculptors, perhaps owing to its hardness and the fact it is mined only in one area.
Sapolite gives a pleasing white, waxy colour with a slightly pearly lustre.
Biography’s
Shona Artists Elvis and King were resident artists in Hove where Deryk and PennyMay had the pleasure of working with them.
Elvis Mamvura
Aged 11, Elvis started sculpting under the tutorage of his father, internationally recognised sculptor Albert Natham Mamvura who was famous for the type of mouth pieces displayed here. Elvis came to the UK with Africa Art and became a resident artist in Namrik Mews. He has one of the remaining quarries left in the Sapolite stone.
King Munya
King Munya is a renowned international artist. He is currently in Zimbabwe organising and opening an art and culture centre under the name: Wrongtime Village.
Deryk Parkin
Trained as an architect at Sheffield University with the intention of eventually becoming a stage designer. On completion of his training he began working for a firm of architects but was soon convinced that architecture was not to be his chosen career when his third building collapsed. To save face and the safety of the nation he decided to pursue his interest in the theatre, treading the boards successfully for over 40 years,
He painted, sculpted and exhibited during his periods of “resting”, exhibiting in his Stables Studio in Hove, where he combined his two great passions, art and theatre.
PennyMay – finds working with Zimbabwean stone an exciting journey of movement and adventure. The grace and presence in her work is influenced by many cultures, including her practice of Tai Chi Chuen.