UNICEF honours sculptor Benhura

By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka

Sculptures made of opal, spring stone and dolomite by renowned sculptor Dominic Benhura that are featured in UNICEF’s 2014 calendar reinforce the artist’s passion for exploring children’s issues through art.

Benhura said he was honoured to work with the international organisation to tackle issues that are related to children’s lives.

“It is a humbling experience to have my works being featured on such a platform. I think UNICEF used the pictures because the works are inspired by children, which is also one of my favourite subjects,” Benhura said.

According to international art collector Marie Imbrova, Benhura is presented in the project as “the artist of the year”.

The calendar in itself is a collector’s item as the works featured carry some of Benhura’s masterpieces since he launched his career in the 1990s.

Unlike the first generation sculptors, who thrived on spirituality in their creative space, Benhura draws inspiration from living things and life in general.

His creativity does not limit him to one medium but he likes to experiment with other media including glass and metal for his sculptures.

Benhura’s sculptures now don the major art galleries of the world and he has won numerous awards.

In Zimbabwe, Benhura is an icon, a role model for young people and those who wish to take art as a full time profession.

He believes that stone sculpture is something through which anyone can express their feelings.

His unparalleled charitable work attests to his desire to give back to his community as a true humanist.

Born in Zimbabwe in 1968, Benhura is one of the pioneering sculptors of Zimbabwe, well-recognised by the strong linear composition of his works.

After joining a resident artist program of Harare in 1990, he progressively moved on to larger sculptures, working with both metal and stone.

Through the years, Benhura has helped to transform Shona sculpture into a world class modern art, exhibiting his works at major venues such as the EXPO ‘92 in Sevilla, EXPO 2000 in Hannover, the Yorkshire Sculpture Garden (UK), the Millesgarten Museum (Sweden) and in 2008 the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden (Holland). The Herald