Post on 02-Apr-2021
NABOTHCHANDIRINGA
“Icannothaveanopinionabouttheoutcomeofthecarving,butmustfollowtheinspirationthattheindividualpieceofstoneoffers”
(b) 25.12.1964Nyanga,Zimbabwe
NabothChandiringastartedcarvingstoneasahobbywhileworkingforaTextileCompanyinChitungwiza,outsideHararein1989.Hesaidaftercarvingfor2yearsherealisedhewantedtosculptfull-time,andhadboththetalentandpassiontomakeithislife’swork.
“MyinspirationwasstirredbyartistslikeJoramMarigaandMaxwellChidora,andIreceivedconsiderabletuitionfromMarigasincewestayedinthesamearea”.
NabothalsohadthebenefitofaformalarttrainingatthePatersonArtCentreinHarare,andoncehehaddecidedtosculptfulltime,hereturnedtohishometownofNyangawheresomeofthemostbeautifulstonesinZimbabwearelocated.
Naboth’sdistinctivesculpturesinBlackSerpentine,oftenofmythicalbirdformshavefoundahomeingalleriesintheUnitedStates,CanadaandEurope,andseveralofhispiecesareinthepermanentcollectionoftheNationalGalleryofZimbabweinMutare.
ThedenseblackstoneandglisteningsheenthatissocharacteristicofBlackSerpentine,whichissourcedintheNyangaMountains,isNabothChandiringa’spreferredmedium.Shonamythology,biblicalstoriesandthebeautyofthemountainsencirclinghishomeiswhatinspiresNaboth.HisstylefusesthespiritualityofFirstgenerationsculptorsandthemorecontemporaryapproachtosculptingembracedbyThirdGenerationartists.