Euwitt Nyanhongo
Euwitt Nyanhongo was born on the 15th of May 1973 in a place called Mazarura Village in Nyanga Zimbabwe. Euwitt is the son of First Generation and veteran Shona Sculptor, Mr. Claude Nyanhongo. Claude has provided Zimbabwe with a dynamic artistic dynasty. Currently, Euwitt is one of Mystery in Stones’ most important artists. Euwitt is one of several outstanding artists that Mystery in Stone is prompting in a garden exhibition in Athens Texas, USA. It was not until his second year of secondary school, in Form II that Euwitt began to sculpt small pieces of art out of his own interest. From that moment, art became his life.
In 1992 Euwitt made the decision to leave the splendor and captivation of the Nyanga mountains to make his break through in the world of Shona Sculpture. Within two years of leaving Nyanga, Euwitt had made his first milestone with his debut exhibition in 1994 at the John Boyne Gallery in Harare. Yearly exhibitions followed.
Themes and Expressions – When Euwitt receives a raw stone he begins by listening to it in order to ‘hear’ the _expression it exudes. In other words, Euwitt is listening for the story the stone is telling. Euwitt believes that the stone must determine from within itself the _expression and theme that is to be created. If Euwitt as the artist attempts to impose his own _expression and make the stone become what he wants, it becomes what he calls a ‘difficult stone’. In such an instant it becomes difficult to complete the piece so the artist must yield to the natural movement and _expression he perceives while sculpting the stone.
After hearing from the raw stone, Euwitt must examine the shape of the stone and be certain where to put the base, in doing this he becomes clearer on how the stone will stand. Alternatively, the shape of the stone may determine how it should stand. In some instances Euwitt may change the base by wedging up the stone, when he does this something different or distinct may emerge from the stone and he begins to create what he hears in this unique dialogue.
What is apparent in Euwitt’s themes is that the expressions are relational in nature, they articulate deeply held feelings and beliefs and what emanates from his dialogue with stone is often a thought provoking piece of art. When Euwitt captures an _expression in his spirit he lays hold of it and remains restless until he brings out the form of the subject in stone. The theme being sculpted may determine how long the piece takes to complete but due consideration is also given to the size and hardness of the raw stone.
Origins of Inspiration – As relayed earlier, Euwitt’s father and some of his siblings have played an integral role in grooming him into the artist he is today. Euwitt has a genuine admiration for First Generation artists like his father Claude Nyanhongo and cannot be convinced otherwise of their brilliance. Euwitt improves the attraction of his art without the inclination to Westernize his art form in any way. He is highly inspired by nature in order to teach his own traditions and cultural values to future generations. When Euwitt views and appreciates Western or other forms of international art, he does so with the intention to better his own expressions rather than changing them. He seeks to perpetually excel without losing his identity in the world of art.
Outside of First Generation artists and nature, Euwitt was inspired by some of the most lorded legends of the sculpting world; in his case they all share the same heritage of Shona Sculptors. It was Claude who drew Euwitt’s attention to Damien Manhuwa. Manhuwa’s art often find’s its _expression in animals and birds and is in many ways different from the work Euwitt creates. Other artists who continue to inspire Euwitt include; the late Nicholas Mukomberanwa; late Bernard Matemera; late Henry Munyaradzi; Nesbert and late Anderson Mukomberanwa.
Emerging – Euwitt Nyanhongo is in every way an artist capable of the far-reaching task of affirming his dreams and aspirations as an artist. As Euwitt excels he confirms that the Nyanhongo name is an iconic symbol of excellence in the minds of art collectors and aspiring artists. Euwitt returns to his childhood home in Nyanga at least one a month. Claude is still living there.
Sculptures of significance: Expressing my Feelings – This is an incredible piece of art that speaks directly to the soul. Euwitt explains the expressions of this piece as taking a feeling from your heart; it is an everyday experience that comes from respecting the feelings of someone. The piece is really about respecting her (the sculpture’s) feelings. We are all people yet we are unable to tell another person to change their ways; I need to be self-reliant in order to retain my integrity as an individual person, without having ideas imposed on me. I must bring my own initiative to my experiences and be free to express my feelings.
If Wishes were Horses – The title of this piece brings us to a closer understanding of what, originally, only the artist could see in the stone. This piece expresses a pensive mind, wishing and hoping expectantly. We see the piece as being carried away by the flight of wishful thoughts. The substitution of hair for wings illustrates; perhaps a dream of flight or a similarly far reaching adventure. It is a story about the best wishes of the individual; an _expression of the innermost soul. The wish here may be perhaps for the individual to be able to fly… it has taken literal form in their head. Viewed under a more spiritual gaze, this piece reveals an individual ascent towards a spiritual altitude, which outwardly transforms the mind and soul until they become that which they envision.
Besides the startling and rich beauty of his exquisitely positioned female themes, Euwitt’s sculptures have their strength of character centered on their hands. Euwitt states that the hands signify the power within the feeling of the sculpture; the power of ‘hands’ is the central subject. Euwitt Nyanhongo is an exceptional artist; people who love his art pay particular attention to his _expression and the connection between art and the human spirit. His focus on the power of feelings provides a provocative and sublime canvas to etch out his narrative.
1. This piece is written by Cleopatra Magwaro for Mystery In Stone and is based on an interview with the Artist.
