“I’m going further into my new world. Everything is new with me, even my hairstyle looks new.”
So this is a person who is trying to reinvent themselves, to move forward into the future and not be held back by their past. A person with a new way of dressing and doing their hair, in the hope that a new outer appearance will change them inside and alter the path of their life.
Exceptional work here from Rufaro, once winner and four-times nominee for the national sculpture prize, as he continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in Zimbabwean sculpture. This is the first time Guruve has shown sculptures made from petrified wood, and a quick search on the internet suggests such things are very rare.
Ancient timber has fossilised into petrified wood over a vast timescale, a process which involves the replacement of the organic matter with various minerals. This not only gives petrified wood its fascinating colours, but also makes it extremely hard. Like red jasper, petrified wood is so hard that hand tools are no use – only power tools can make an impression on the stone. This makes it a time-consuming and expensive material to sculpt – but worth it for the amazing results!
