Heavy Thoughts

Tapfuma Gutsa

Write a Review

SKU:: GUT1480
UPC:
Availability:: Ships within 2 - 4 weeks
Weight:: 45 lbs
Dimensions:: 29" x 15" x 10"
Materials Used:: Wood

Artist Info: Optional

Tapfuma Gutsa

Tapfuma Gutsa, perhaps more than any other of the second generation of Zimbabwean stone sculptors, has broken free from the traditions already established in this young movement.  Often using a combination of materials, such as stone, metal, wood, wire, paper and string, he strives to express contemporary as well as traditional ideals to a local as well as an international audience. Born in 1956 in Harare, Tapfuma Gutsa was educated at Driefontein Mission School in Zimbabwe, and later became the first recipient of a British Council award to Zimbabwe.

With this scholarship he studied for three years at the London School of Art, England (1982 - 1985) and was awarded a diploma in sculpture. He had always been interested in art, particularly sculpture, and even while still young took decisions that were to shape his future.  He chose to attend the Driefontein Mission School in order to be taught by the respected sculptor and teacher Cornelius Maguma; and he broke away from family expectations when he made the decision to leave his father´s construction company and pursue his ambition to become a full time artist.  The years in England were difficult to a young man new to the country and way of life.  The formal art education he received there was to form many of his opinions on the role of art in society in general, and to fire his enthusiasm in helping the young people of his own country - a commitment that endures today.  Evidence of his experiences in a wider international art environment can still be found in his work.  With each piece he seems to challenge afresh the established concepts of Zimbabwean stone sculpture.  The challenge goes out to international art audiences and fellow Zimbabwean sculptors alike.  For many, he has been a powerful role model and young sculptors such as Dominic Benhura, Garrison Machinjili, Fabian Madamombe, Wencelous Marufu and Jonathan Gutsa all cite Tapfuma as their major influence.

Tapfuma´s sculpture speaks easily and powerfully to an international art audience, with a vocabulary, which reflects refreshingly new techniques.  His work is often politically charged and is capable of great poignancy, but is always challenging, both in terms of visual imagery and idealistic belief.

His work also argues convincingly against the claim that this new African art form should remain free from outside influence.  In his opinion, ´´the Western world has long borrowed from Africa so I find no problem in borrowing from them´´.  The imagery in his work is not borrowed from contemporary European culture, but actually represents much of today´s society in Zimbabwe - it is not restricted to portraying traditional cultural issues and is unafraid to speak of the current environment in his home country.
In 1989 Tapfuma Gutsa was one of a handful of artists from Africa whom curator Grace Stanislaus selected to exemplify the theme of a major exhibition at the Studio Museum in Harlem - Contemporary African Art: Changing Traditions. Now, in 1996, Gutsa's latest work fulfills the promise of artistic toughness and invention that was presaged in the works shown at the Studio Museum in 1990. These works accepted and simultaneously set out to challenge conventions of Zimbabwe sculpture.
Tapfuma Gutsa was born in 1956 in Harare, Zimbabwe, and was educated at St. Ignatius College, Chishawasha. At the Driefontein Mission, he participated in a Woodcarving Workshop under Father Cornelius Manguma (1978 - 1979). Gutsa also studied at City and Guilds School of Art, London (on British Council Scholarship), 1982 - 1985. His workshop was in Shurugwi, Zimbabwe.   Today he lives with his family and works outside of Vienna, Austria.

Awards:

1981: Oxyco-Weldart Award, National Gallery, Harare.

1986: Nedlaw Sculpture Award, National Gallery, Harare.

1992: Johnson & Fletcher Award, Ability in Wood, NG - Harare.

1993: Artist's Residency at Delfina Studios, London.

1995: President's Award of Honour, Zimbabwe Heritage Exhibition.
________________________________________

Selected Exhibitions:

1981: Gallery Delta, Harare

1985: New Horizons, Royal Festival Hall, London

1987: Utonga, Sculptures and Drawings by Tapfuma Gutsa, PG Gallery at National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare

1988: Drawings and Paintings by Berry Bickle and Sculptures by Tapfuma Gutsa, Gallery Delta, Harare Pachipamwe - Workshop Exhibition, National Gallery, Harare

1989: Pachipamwe - Workshop Exhibition, National Gallery, Harare

1990: Contemporary African Art, Group Exhibition, Studio Museum, Harlem New York

1990: Thapong Workshop Exhibition, National Museum Of Botswana, Gaborone

1990: Pachipamhe Art Workshop Exhibition, National Gallery, Harare

1990/91: Contemporary Stone Sculpturee from Zinbabwe, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, U. K. (Group Exhibition)

1991: Venice Biennale, African Pavillon

1991: New Generation, Sculptures by Eddie Masaya, Brighton Sango, Norbert Shamuyarira, Richard Jack, Tapfuma Gutsa, Le Forum, Harare

1991: Havanna Biennale, Cuba

1991: Ujamaa Art Workshop Exhibition, Center for Brazilian Studies Maputo Mozambique

1992: Sandro's Gallery, Harare

1993: Travelling Group Exhibition, Finnland

1993: Gallery Knuth Grothe, Copenhagen, Denmark (Group Exhibitions)

1993: Open Studios, Group Exhibieion at Delfina Studios, London

1993: Xayamaca Art Workshop Exhibition, Wray & Nephew Warehouse, Kingston, Jamaica 1994 Stage Design for'Strong Winds-Project', Arnolfini Theater, Bristol, U.K.

1994: Palmegarden, Frankfurt, Germany, (Group Exhibition)

1994: Alliance Francaise, Harare

1994: Gallery Delta, Harare (Works by Prominent Contemporary Artists) Pachipamwe-ZIM-Sculpture Art Workshop Exhibition

1995: Johannesburg Biennale

1995: Genesis, Group Exhibition, Emsdetten, Germany

1995: 180 Degrees, Group Exhibition, Los Angeles

1988, 1989, 1990: Participant of Pachipamwe International Art Workshop

1990: Thapong Art Workshop, Botswana

1991: Ujamaa Art Workshop, Pemba, Mozamhique

1993: Xayamaca Workshop, Crystal Springs, Jamaica

1994: Pachipamwe/ZIM-Sculpture Workshop, Shurugwi, Zimbabwe

2010: Deputy Director National Gallery of Zimbabwe

2011: La Biennale di Venezia 2011  Zimbabwean Pavillion

Current Stock:

Description

"My wife and I lost a son in very odd circumstances. There were heavy signs of JuJu [a spirit]. I am only now recovering from the event since we have been blessed with a lovely daughter." The artist memorializes and tries to come to terms with a traumatic event in both this work and Wailing Queen. The head is split open to reveal a dark and mysterious interior, not so much an anatomical brain as a conglomeration of thoughts represented by the intriguing form of a sausage tree seed painted black.