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TANYANYIWA CHIPFUNDE was born in 1971 and
raised in rural Murehwa. He was educated at Chipfunde primary and
secondary schools. Mostly self taught he went into full time Shona
sculpture soon after leaving school, having been inspired by fellow
artists and by visits to the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. He has
exhibited since 1996 in several exhibitions, most recently at the
Mutare Branch of the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe in 2000. He
has sold work to people from all parts of the Western world.
SHONA ART, and in particular, Shona stone sculpture
has its roots in traditional African life. It is heavily influenced
by tribal beliefs and customs, with the emphasis in many cases on
the family and clan system of totems (Mutupo). The beliefs surrounding
the Mutupo are very complex. Every person has this totem, almost
always some type of animal, in common with his family and closer
relatives, although people from different clans may have the same
Mutupo. This totem serves as protector as well as a form of identification
and is significant in certain rituals. It is absolutely forbidden
for a person to marry another with the same Mutupo
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TANYANYIWA CHIPFUNDE
Tanyanyiwa the only son born into a family of six on the 6th of
August 1971, in Uzumba in Murewa, Zimbabwe into the Zezuru Tribe.
Tanya, as his friends call him, had his schooling, both primary
and secondary, at Chipfunde School.
Tanya is one of the first generation sculpture’s whose history
dates back to the time of Father Frank Maclwein, and Cannon Peterson.
Tanya attended The Harry Chingono Studio from 1990 – 1994
for his art training.
Tanya has had several art exhibitions. His work has been collected
and exhibited in countries abroad such as Germany, Australia, USA,
the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Other exhibitions in Zimbabwe are:
· Nyanga Craft Village – December 1998
· Montclair Hotel (solo) – October 2000
· National Gallery Mutare (two man exhibition) – August
2001
· Manisa Exhibition, Mutare Gallery – December 2001
· Gallery Africa, Harare – August 2005
Tanya is a holder of an ‘Overall Award of Distiction in Visual
Arts – Mutare National Gallery 2001’. Tanya’s
inspiration for his work comes from works done by other artist’s
such as Brighton Sango, Nicholas Mukomberanwa, Harry Munyaradzi
and his master pieces.
About his work and inspirations Tanya says “My work represents
people, love, their environment and the struggle to make peace and
creating a better world of equal opportunities”.
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