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Rangarirai Makunde
'Dressed For Tonight' Shona stone sculpture signed by Rangarirai Makunde

2004

About the Item

'Dressed For Tonight' is an original black serpentine stone sculpture signed by the Zimbabwean artist Rangarirai Makunde. The sculpture presents the figure of a tall and elegant woman wearing a floor-length gown. She demurely bends her knees and holds one hand to her chest. With her other hand she caresses the texture of her dress – a texture that likewise calls out to the viewer to touch. Indeed, as is so beloved of the artists trained in the Shona tradition, the entire sculpture is a celebration of the texture of stone: the woman's face and hands are polished smooth like skin, while her gown is chiseled with marks mimicking the appearance of fabric, and her hair with a roughness reflecting pride in Afro-textured hair. Thusly, the elegance of the stone carving emphasizes the elegance of the woman. black serpentine 49 x 14.5 x 11 inches signed along base on rear with drilled hole in the center of base for a metal support rod Overall excellent condition with no signs of wear *** Rangarirai Makunde was born in 1969 in Masvingo Bikita District. In his early twenties he moved to Harare, seeking better employment opportunities than were offered in his hometown. He went to Gladman Zinyeka, his uncle, who had already created a name for himself. He worked for two years as his assistant and admired the way he created his sculptures. Makunde is one of the most acclaimed artists of the new generation of Shona sculptors. He carves from observation to bring form out of stone. He began sculpting full time which enabled him to develop his own unique style. With stone sculpting, he finally discovered a means of expressing himself. His favorite stones to work with are the hardest ones. His creations radiate a distinctively vibrant energy and color. Makunde takes particular pride in his finishes and unlike many of the other sculptors, he prefers to do the last stage of polishing himself, up to the final finish. "As an artist, I could express what is already in the stone without disrupting its natural force." *** Though springstone is one of the hardest in use by the Shona sculptors of Zimbabwe, it is one of the most prized. The stone itself can be found throughout the world, but that used by Shona sculptors is largely mined by hand out of the Guruve District of Zimbabwe. The stone has a soft brown outer layer, but is dark and dense within, making it popular for its color and its ability to be brought to a high polish.
  • Creator:
    Rangarirai Makunde (1969, Zimbabwean)
  • Creation Year:
    2004
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 49 in (124.46 cm)Width: 14.5 in (36.83 cm)Depth: 11 in (27.94 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Overall excellent condition with no signs of wear.
  • Gallery Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 11554g1stDibs: LU60537211472
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