Chapungu Sculpture Park
 | |
| Formation | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Roy Guthrie |
| Purpose | Arts and Culture |
| Headquarters | 1 Harrow Road, Msasa |
| Location | |
| Remarks | Phone Tel: +263 242 480196/486648 |
The Chapungu Sculpture Park is a sculpture park in Msasa, Harare which displays the work of Zimbabwean stone sculptors. The Chapungu Sculpture Park is a 20 minute drive from the city centre. It was founded in 1970 by Roy Guthrie, who was instrumental in promoting the work of its sculptors worldwide.[1]
Background
It is an artists's hub were sculptors operate from. The centre was created to help budding stone artistes get exposure, most of their work is displayed and sold abroad, other pieces are displayed and sold at the park. Some acclaimed artistes started their careers here and now have several award winning pieces. The Park also organises several exhibitions during the year when the works are displayed at other locations such as the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe and the Botanical Gardens. Visitors can also browse for other smaller souvenirs in the shops at the park.[2]
History
Chapungu Village and Sculpture Park was a dynamic centre of the world famous Zimbabwean stone sculpture. It formed the movement that emerged in the 1950s under the tutelage of Frank McEwen, the founding director of the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe, who established the Workshop School that is synonymous with great sculptors such as Mukomberanwa, Taurai Mteki, Thomas Mukarobgwa, Takawira, Joseph Ndandarika and Mubayi, to name but a few.
To fill in the departure of McEwen, a number of commercial galleries opened in competition with National Gallery in the now lucrative trade and the most prominent was Gallery Shona which was run by one Roy Guthrie. Around 1980, he purchased a vast tract of land in Msasa, part of which was Doon Estate where he established Chapungu Village and Sculpture Park with a typical village flavour to it. He expanded quickly, nurturing new talent that became an integral part of Zimbabwean art.
Over the years many artists hailing from the centre earned a constant income and some of them bought substantial properties in the suburbs of Harare and Ruwa area. In these areas and high-density suburbs, they set up studios, which welcomed young talent as assistants and apprentices. The pressure to produce reduced one-on-one mentorship in favour of high production and even larger pieces. This perhaps was the beginning of the end for sculpture in Zimbabwe.
Collection, preservation, promotion, encouragement and documentation have been Chapungu’s main functions since 1980. The policy of acquiring major works for the permanent collection has enabled the park to mount many of the most important and comprehensive exhibitions of past years. It has also meant that these works remain as sculptural heritage of Zimbabwe.
Liquidation of the Village
When the financial woes of the 80s and 90s set in, the village was not spared creating challenges for the centre. The same woes touched the dealers, too, sending Guthrie into a brief involuntary exile. Due to Roy’s speedy exit to the States where he has been organising exhibitions, the management committee left in charge failed to maintain previously high aesthetic standards, and the quality of the work on display plummeted. Finally, despite bail-out efforts by Guthrie, Chapungu went into liquidation in October 2012 and the remaining sculptures were sold off and Harare lost its respectable sculpture outlet.[3]
Picture Gallery
