Silently sculpting way to the top
HE REMAINS an unknown quantity in the local visual arts sector.
But away from home he has been immortalised in dozens of prominent artworks in South Africa, Germany, Australia, Canada and the United States.
While Zimbabwe has its own fair share of prominent visual artistes with a massive international following, Effort Musandineno remains relatively unknown, albeit deserving respect and honour at home.
A prophet usually has no honour in his hometown. A specialist of visual fine art, the 36-year-old Musandineno from Mashava, Masvingo, has quietly worked his way to the top over the years, without many people here knowing about it.
Today, his more prominent artworks decorate a number of prominent landmarks and municipality headquarters in South Africa where the market has developed a gluttonous appetite for his output.
In South Africa and Europe, his works are revered as exemplified by a number of award nominations he has earned.
Already, he has done full body artworks of prominent heroes of South African anti-apartheid leaders Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Albert Lutuli and Jacob Zuma.
Also in his body of work is the sculpture of the iconic photograph of Hector Pieterson, which was shot during the 1976 Soweto uprising in South Africa.
His artworks sell for as much as R3 million in South Africa, a testament to their originality and precision in terms of detail and presentation.
And when it appeared that Musandineno had resigned to catering for markets outside Zimbabwe, he unleashed a masterpiece that has had local critics raving.
Musandineno received a modicum of recognition, praise and reverence last month after presenting to President Mugabe a sculpture of the revolutionary leader at State House, on the day the Head of State and Government was also presented with another work by the better-known Dominic Benhura.
Musandineno’s sculpture, a reproduction of President Mugabe in stone, received praise from the liberation stalwart himself. Said the President: “In a sense, in a way to see oneself reproduced this way and that way — replicated, it is something that should be more appreciated than just by saying thank you. I will say in an African way and in our own way thank you in a much deeper way because it has gone deep in my heart.”
Though the sculpture was completed through teamwork, with other artistes including Sylvester Mugari and Kizito Mukosera playing key roles, it was Musandineno who conceptualised the idea and brought it to life.
The Mashava community was partly involved in initial stages of the work.
Musandineno told The Sunday Mail Leisure: “It took us three years to complete the President’s sculpture. In art, unlike many other vocations, you cannot do all the work overnight. You have to wait until you have artistic inspiration and do the work right there and then until the brainwave has elapsed.
“Only when you have the image of the piece you are doing can you actually do the work. The piece we presented at State House was my own way of saying ‘thank you’ to the President for empowering youths here in Zimbabwe.”
He said work on an individual full body piece requires an outlay of more than US$10 000. The returns are, however, equally satisfying.
Musandineno started sculpting after completing O-Level studies, with a miniature hornbill bird his first piece.
“I believe the talent is hereditary as my late father and two of my uncles were also into the trade,” he said. Now, Musandineno is looking to the future with a spring in his step. Brushing shoulders with and receiving praise from Africa’s foremost living son has opened new horizons for the artiste.