|
|
|
|
Sculptures by this Artist:
The second born in a family of eight, Canaan Ngandu was born in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe. He was raised by his grandmother in the Mufakose township. At the age of six they moved to the Chitungwiza township in Harare. Canaan’s ancestral home is in the Chiweshe district in the sprawling Mashonaland province. This is a farming region where generations of families share the plots of their parents and grandparents. Therefore, most of the homesteads resemble tiny villages.
While living in Chitungwiza with his grandmother Canaan was educated to secondary level. It became apparent that he was talented in art as he was identified as one of the best artists in the school. These early art classes became the foundation for his quick adeptness to the craft. Leading to an excellent career as a sculptor.
Canaan’s career began while passing the studios of renowned artists Kennedy Migeri and Moses Masaya during his daily routine. Here he found great inspiration and would study their skilled techniques during his brief visits. He then began teaching himself to sculpt. Canaan never apprenticed with an artist. He required only a brief glimpse into the sculpting world to see how it was done.
After a year of practicing Canaan mastered how to use the punch and chasing hammer used for sculpting stone. Once this was accomplished, he then needed to convince his grandmother to purchase a piece of raw stone for him to practice on. He began sculpting alone and untutored with only his brief visits to those studios as his reference.
His first piece was around 60cm in height, this was only the beginning. He then produced a bird and from that sculpture his confidence grew, especially since he sold it within a week!
Canaan enjoys using his imagination to create sculptures that combine nature with human feelings in both modern and ancestral Shona beliefs. His themes vary from the abstract, to torsos, birds, and human heads. All of which is displayed in galleries throughout the world. Presently his sculpture may be found in Holland, Belgium, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and South Africa.
Canaan is happily married and has two children. They live in Chitungwiza a district in Harare, Zimbabwe.
|
|
|
|
