Meet ARON KAPEMBEZA | SCULPTOR

We had the good fortune of connecting with ARON KAPEMBEZA and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi ARON, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
~My aunt, introduced me to the exciting medium of stones. She taught me to appreciate details of nature. Colleen, an established female sculptor taught me the rudiments of sculpting, before moving into his own style. ~She encouraged me to carve larger stones, this inspired me and later tried my hand to sculpt, consequently, began to develop my own style. ~During these early years, I carved off-cuts. ~My passion for the human figures has made me develop my own expressive style of stone sculpting, womanhood from tender ages to motherhood, and this can be seen in a wide range of gorgeous sculptures ranging from stylized to representational in the gallery

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Aron Resident Artist Background Aron is one of Zimbabwe’s successful and most represented artists. Born in 1982. His artistic talent was evident at an early age of 18 and through perseverance and dedication; he is one of Zimbabwe’s leading springstone sculptors. He discovered he was able to see the finished sculptures hidden in springstone and from that moment, a transformation began which snapped the soul of an artist. Colleen Madamombe, an aunt, introduced him to the exciting medium of stones. She taught him to appreciate details of nature. Colleen, an established female sculptor taught him the rudiments of sculpting, before moving into his own style. She encouraged him to carve larger stones, this inspired him and later tried his hand to sculpt, consequently, began to develop his own style. During these early years, he carved off-cuts. Since his experience with Colleen, Aron’s desire to create has been continuous and prolific. His passion for the human figures has made him develop his own expressive style, womanhood from tender ages to motherhood, and this can be seen in a wide range of gorgeous sculptures ranging from stylised to representational in the gallery. He sold his first professional artwork at the age of eighteen. Aron says, I like to sculpt representational pieces. It is very gratifying to transform rough springstone into a shape that I can find in the heart of stone. He is a young upcoming Zimbabwean artist, who has chosen art as his career and it is a rare moment when his sensors turned off. He does not consult books and lacks school of fine arts training. Its my own work and once I select a certain rough springstone or rock I need, I let my mind and feelings coupled with the intrinsic characteristics of stone control the final image. In most cases, the structure of the stone determines the design. Viewers cannot resist the urge to run their hand over Aron’s sculptures. He strives to create sculpture that will seduce the viewer’s eye, stir the soul, and entice the viewer to touch. He carves as much of the details of a particular subject as he can, without sacrificing the flowing, graceful lines, which typify his style. He is a widely collected artist with a diverse and versatile sculpting talent. His work can be found in private, corporate and public collections in Europe and African continent and has 40 exhibitions to his credit. Most recently, Aron worked with an exclusive gallery in the Netherlands. He is one of the stone sculptors to have a solo exhibition in the Netherlands, Europe and the first sculptor to give lessons in Europe. In July 2007, Aron traveled to the Netherlands and worked at a renowned studio Gallery De Duffel for three months. Aron’s work has been exhibited in major exhibitions in Zimbabwe and internationally. He works at his home, his knowledge and skill influence local and international sculptor apprentices. Aron is passionate about his work, and is interested in sharing with patrons. He is very approachable, and welcomes inquiries. I find it a deeply natural experience to carve and I am constantly amazed and excited about the discoveries that can be found in Zimbabwean hard black springstone as well as opal stone, often using outer blanket of the stones and designing various styles to contrast with polished surfaces,

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Favorite spot : I enjoy visiting Botanical gardens, art districts and go to gym often.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Chris Miller – (Urban Art Market) , Julia Rose ~ (Gallery Pure)

Website: www.zimibwesculptures.com

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