"Three Dancing Sisters" - Life Size

Artist Bio: Shingirai Dare

Shingirai Dare, born on June 2, 1979, in Chiweshe, Mashonaland Central, draws inspiration from the green opal stone found in his homeland. Educated at Bhobho Primary and Jenga Mvura Secondary schools, Dare developed a unique artistic vision centered on transforming natural resources into art.

In 1994, Dare began sculpting under the mentorship of local artists Sydney and Uperty Majengwa. By 1996, his work was featured in prestigious venues such as Tengenenge Art Village, Chapungu Sculpture Park, and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, gaining both local and international recognition.

Dare is known for creating slightly abstracted human forms, often using a mix of raw and polished stone to create contrasting textures in his sculptures. His preference for large, life-sized pieces is evident in his work, and he favors Green Opal stone for its durability and suitability for outdoor display. Dare believes his sculptures are meant to be placed in natural settings, where they can interact with and enhance their surroundings.

In 2003, Dare transitioned from Tengenenge to Hartfield before settling at the Chitungwiza Arts Center, where he continues to create. His sculptures have garnered admiration and support, reflecting his deep connection to his environment and his dedication to the art of sculpting.

Country of Origin:

• Hand carved in Zimbabwe

Dimensions (feet & inches):

• Depth: 1'7"
• Width: 3'1"
• Height: 5'5"

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.

Display:

• This piece 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!

Shipping:

• Shipping on large or fragile pieces is calculated on a case by case basis. This is because a custom crate is needed. We also want to make sure to get you the best shipping quote because freight shipping rates fluctuate greatly. For a shipping estimate on this piece, please give us a call! 212-838-3650 or email info@hemingwayafricangallery.com
• 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).

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. Paying a fair price to our artists is our number one priority and our pricing reflects that.

Further Information:

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