Preening Bird by Simon Chidharara, Serpentine Stone, Orange, Brown, Unique, 33cm high, 29cm wide, 23cm deep.
Preening Bird by Simon Chidharara is a striking example of contemporary Zimbabwean Shona stone sculpture, rendered in a refined abstract and minimalist style. Carved from a single piece of rich serpentine stone, the work captures the elegant, fluid motion of a bird absorbed in the intimate act of grooming its feathers. The artist demonstrates the birds natural behaviour into this sculptural form. With smooth curves and balanced proportions, the work suggests both grace and vitality. Measuring 33 cm high by 29 cm wide and 23 cm deep, this unique hand-carved sculpture exemplifies Chidharara’s mastery of material and his ability to evoke life and movement through simplicity and restraint.
Born in 1980, Simon Chidharara lives in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. He is a founding member of the Nyanga Arts Centre, and had a residency with Zim art in 2007. He was the first third generation artist to travel overseas to show his work directly to an audience internationally.
