Perlagia Mutyavaviri
Stone Sculptor
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1977, Perlagia Mutyavaviri began sculpting
at the age of 24 and soon joined the vibrant stone carving culture of
the Chitungwiza Arts Center. Working with George Mubayi, an accomplished
sculptor with an international reputation who likes to push the
boundaries of the Shona art movement, Perla found that “George was very
inspiring. He gave me courage. He taught me to work on hard stones.
There were no easy tasks for me, so that made me a hard worker.”
One of the most innovative and provocative artists in the Shona
sculpture movement, Mutyavaviri uses line, shape and volume to create
her abstract forms that radiate elegance and suggest human feelings and
relationships. “The shape and form of abstracts broadens my mind. I can
bring any idea I think of out of the stone, I can tell any story.”
Perlagia Mutyavariri is included in private collections and galleries in
Germany, Africa, the Netherlands, UK, Canada and the United States.
2002 Winner or Kristin Diehl Sculpture Prize,
Germany
2004 Award of Merit Young Woman Sculptor Competition,
Zimbabwe
2004 Participant “In Praise of Women II’ exhibition
touring Europe
2004 Artist-in-Residence Rice Lake V, Canada
2005 Artist-in-Residence Afrika Museum, The
Netherlands
2006 Artist-in-Residence Afrika Museum, The
Netherlands
2017 Life In Stone Exhibition Gallery Sur,
Carmel, California
Initially the realm of male artists, Perla is one of the most celebrated
artists to emerge from the small but growing group of Zimbabwean women
carvers with international exposure and critical acclaim for their work.
“Women sculptors can be role models for tomorrow’s African women. There
is much that can be said through the art form that would otherwise not
be seen, said or heard.”
In 2017 Perla met Zimbabwe’s internationally acclaimed female sculptor,
Agnes Nyanhongo, whose support and camaraderie has strengthened her
confidence in her own unique style. |