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Ndale Wilo Ndale was born in 1942 in Malawi, of the Ayawo tribe and is one of the first generation sculptors in Zimbabwe. He consistently followed his own path, but by experimenting with scale and subject matter continued to challenge himself throughout his career. As a result his work is powerfully individual and, although simple, always expressive and striking. Through a dream-like distortion his figures appear surreal, disturbing and sometimes full of humour and often combine elements of contemporary life with the most powerful Shona beliefs.
After working as a miner, and later as a fishmonger on Lake Nyasa, he came to Zimbabwe in 1962 looking for more secure employment. His uncle had been a wood carver and he had another relative working at the Tengenenge Sculpture Community - consequently he found himself joined the community in 1964 where he could develop his talents as a carver. He worked solely in wood for a year, before turning to the medium of stone. The traditional dance imagery greatly influenced this early work and can still be seen in some of his sculpture. However, it wasn´t long before the unique atmosphere of Tengenenge and encouragement of Tom Blomefield began to change his sculpture. Birds and animals started to appear - making his sculpture more three dimensional and magical. Not restricted to small stone, Ndale was able to experiment with small, medium and some very large works. He didn´t specifically study animals but rather worked from his imagination. His earliest sculptures portrayed a crocodile and later a water spirit - both with powerful spiritual significance. These too have been recurring themes throughout his career and his sculpture was increasingly involved with the complex spiritual world. He felt guided by his dreams and strove to re-invent these nightly images as soon as possible after they first appear. Uninfluenced by other sculptors, he still attributes the greatest example was set by his uncle. He did however admire the work of Bernard Matemera, Henry Munyaradzi and Bernard Takawira. Ndale left Tengenenge in the years of liberation struggle because the countryside had become too dangerous an area in which to live and work. Ndale moved to Harare in 1986 and began to work at Chapungu Sculpture Park. Ndale became involved in carving while he was still young and looked on it as a reliable source of income an occupation in which he felt fortunate to have had naturally skilled. His most frequently selected stone mediums were Springstone, Opal stone and the black Serpentines. He was attracted to the pieces of stone that were naturally elongated as these reveal inherent images more clearly. In discussions about his work, Ndale said, ´´I particularly remember a piece called Lion Spirit which was carved at Tengenenge and was sold in 1966. I think it is now in Zambia. It was one of my best pieces of work. It still influences me and appears in my dreams. I would like to carve something as good as that once again - if I find the right piece of stone I may even carve something better´´. Artist's Sculpture (Click to view):
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