Lot 161: Bernard Matemera Stone Sculpture(Zim1946-2002)

Bernard Matemera Stone Sculpture(Zim1946-2002) Bird of Prey, signed, 56cm high, The late Bernard Matemera was one of the most important sculptors of the First Generation of Zimbabwe Sculpture. Bernard was born in 1946 and he lived his entire working life at Tengenenge Sculpture Village until he died on March 4, 2002. Bernard was the artistic and inspirational leader at Tengenenge and his relationship with Tom Blomefield, the founder of tengenenge, was rich and deep. His work is full of depth and spiritual meaning, much like the man himself. He was until his death a humble, spiritual man whose great strength exploded in his work. A prolific sculptor, Bernard worked tirlessly, and on any given visit to tengenenge we would find him seated under a tree, hands white with dust, working on a new and powerful piece. Celia Winter-Irving in her book -Tengenenge - Art, Sculpture, and Paintings- described Bernards work as having -the container energy of a cat waiting to spring, and the leopard waiting to pounce, an inexhaustible and residual power which remains untapped-. Like his contemporary henry Munyaradzi, Bernard Matemera will be remembered as one of the finest sculptors Zimbabwe has ever produced, and as one of the country's greatest ambassadors.