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| ART
& CRAFTS GALLERY | | | |
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| Azwimphelele
Gerbon Magoro |
| Azwimpheleli Magoro
lives at Muledane near Thohoyandou, Venda. |
| His love for carving
started in primary school and he soon started carving wooden spoons, jugs and
knives from soft indigenous woods like Moroela and Wild Fig, with chisels made
out of sharpened bicycle spokes and screw drivers. |
| Magoro's works depict
traditional themes from Venda cultural life. |
| His sculptures
are alive with linear movement and he executes every idea with skilled precision.
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works are sought after because of these characteristics. |
| Azwimpheleli
Magoro is a quiet man. |
| Sitting in front of
a massive Maroela tree stump at his house, his eyes wander across the surface,
looking for the next line or shape to emphasize. |
Click images
to enlarge.
Please be patient - Large downloads | |
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| Azwimpheleli
Magoro is skilled in his work and has been carving since he was ten years old. |
| It
was at the start of discovering this love for carving that Azwi's uncle, Meshack
Raphalalani, took him to a fellow professional carver,
Hendrik Nekhofhe. |
| It was under Nekhofhe's
wing that Magoro received a six month apprenticeship, learning how to cut and
choose wood and how to use professional chisels. |
| Nekofhe has been a source
of inspiration for the young Magoro and has remained a close friend. |
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Azwimpheleli Magoro
is a man straddling his ancient past heritage and the 21st century.
He advocated
a balance between the old and the new world, being only too aware that things
are changing because of money and time. |
| "Which means that when
we are busy working there (in the cities) for that money, it means we are losing
something. | | We
don't have time to go and fetch clay, we don't have time to join the group for
Tshikona, just because we are working for money." |
| He sees modern-day Venda's
not knowing about their cultural heritage and it is through his art that he wants
to remind his people of their rich and valid history. | |
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| Through works that are
clear in linear definition and detail, one learns about the centuries-old Tshikona,
the dance of the men blowing on pipes, producing sounds and patterns of movement
as old as the Venda people. |
| One learns about cultural
protocol, ways of greeting and specific traditional implements (such as the jsuri
or stamping block and mortar) that were used in days of old. |
| He
views the role of the Venda artist as central to its community, but also as central
to future tourism for Venda. |
| For tourists it would
be "to see the ideas of other people." | |  |
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Mukondeni
arts and crafts has been instrumental in the establishment of the following:
The Mashamba Art Gallery & Ditike in Venda
Self Help projects
An Artist
and a Cultural village. |
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