Washington Msonza
Washington Msonza, born in 1966, the first born of 5 brothers and 3 sisters. He started his schooling near his hometown Makumbe at the Govera primary school in the Domboshava district, which was then Rhodesia. After the difficult war years when Rhodesia had become Zimbabwe, he finished his schooling at the Chitungwiza secondary school from 1984 to 1987.
Ever since living in Chitungwiza he spent most of his spare time watching the many artist´s that work there. In particular he liked to help and watch his brother in law Albert Mamvurha. Albert had set up his own workshop after learning to sculpt from the great Nicholas Mukomberanwa, his cousin.
In 1988 Washington joined Albert as a student and helper. He was a very capable student who soon started carving his own pieces in the evening. Before long he tried to gain additional experience by working for other famous sculptors like Locadia Ndandarika, Biggie Kapeta and Gideon Nyanhongo.
His early pieces were small. Mostly he sculpted woman in fancy dresses, which he sold to tourists. When his sculptures became bigger and more imaginative the local galleries like Nhukutu Gallery, Chapungu Sculpture Park and Springstone Gallery eagerly bought them. Yet even more pieces he sold directly to numerous private collectors and galleries in South Africa, Germany, the Nertherlands and the U.S.A.
In 2000 Washington was one of the only two Zimbabwean sculptors invited to participate in an international sculpture symposium in China. There, he produced his biggest sculpture ever. This creation called Angel Protecting Lovers is nearly 3 metres high and is chiselled out of white marble. This earned him the much acclaimed honorary Changgchun International Sculptors Diploma and also the friendship and admiration of the Chinese people, as well as the respect of the over 50 participating international sculptor colleagues.
Washington is married to Lucia. Their son is called Worship. He dreams of soon participating in a workshop or sculpture exhibition in the U.S.A or Europe. ´´It would make me happy´´ he says. ´´If people on every continent could watch me while before their eyes, I transform a rock into a beautiful sculpture of lasting beauty´´.
Artist Sculpture:
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