"Stone Silhouette" by Tafunga Bonjisi

Artist Bio:

Tafunga Bonjisi

Tafunga Bonjisi, hailing from the notable Bonjisi family of Zimbabwean sculptors, stands out as a prominent artist in the contemporary Shona stone art's third generation. Born in 1982 and twin to Garikai, Tafunga spent his formative years in Ruwa and concluded his education in Tafara.

His early interest in stone sculpture led him to his elder brother, Lameck, an accomplished sculptor who had trained under the renowned Nicholas Mukomberanwa. Under Lameck's mentorship, Tafunga refined his craft.

Starting in 2000, Tafunga developed his signature style. While rooted in traditional Shona techniques, his works are distinguished by their balance and finishing. He often chooses robust stones like Springstone, Cobalt, or Opal for his creations, with a special focus on representing the human form. Through his pieces, Tafunga continues the Bonjisi family's rich tradition in Zimbabwean stone art.

 Country of Origin:

• Hand carved in Zimbabwe

Dimensions (in inches):

• Depth: 16"
• Width: 15"
• Height: 40"

Type of Stone:

• Green Opal
• Green Opal is sourced in the mines north of the Zimbabwean capital of Harare.  After polishing, it becomes a deep beautiful green. It is favored by many Shona artists as it is not as hard as Springstone but it still polishes to a high shine. The first Green Opal mines were not found until 1989.

Shipping:

• Shipping on large or fragile pieces is calculated on a case by case basis. This is because sometimes a custom crate is needed. We also want to make sure to get you the best shipping quote so we price out rates after purchase. For a shipping estimate on this piece, please give us a call! 212-838-3650 or email info@hemingwayafricangallery.com
• A declared value is included in each shipment so a signature upon delivery is required. 
• Delivery in the New York area is available via truck. 
• We ship around the world! Our website is still new and is not yet processing automatic international shipping rates. Please contact us directly for custom shipping quotes outside the mainland USA (including Hawaii and Alaska).

Display:

• This piece is free-standing. It includes an iron base for added stability.
• This piece can be displayed outside as weather will not harm the stone. Shona sculpture is the perfect addition to any garden design!

About Shona Sculpture:

Stone sculpture in Zimbabwe, dating from 1956 until today, is the best-known manifestation of African contemporary art. Northern Zimbabwe has uniquely large amounts of carvable stone. The stone was so important to the people that the name ‘Shona’ is derived from a word in their native language that means ‘house of stone.’ There is no technical artistic training in Shona sculpture. Sculpting skills are passed down through families and the large and hard stones are carved with only a hammer and chisel. Hemingway Gallery purchases this sculpture directly from the Shona artists in Zimbabwe and has imported the monumental stone artwork since the early 1980s. These fine modern sculptures are unparalleled in both carving skill and design. Hemingway holds long-standing relationships with artists like Bywell Sango, Sylvester Mubayi, Witness Bonjisi and many more.

Click the Shona Sculpture tab below for further information!

Our Pricing:

Our pricing correlates directly to the asking prices of artists in Zimbabwe and the costs of importing their artwork to the U.S. We need to change the idea that artists should be paid pennies for their fine art just because it comes from Africa. 

Further Information:

Please email us at info@hemingwayafricangallery.com or call 212-838-3650 with the SKU # for further information on this piece.