Colleen Madamombe
Encyclopedia
Colleen Madamombe was a Zimbabwe
an sculptor.
Colleen Madamombe, born in 1964 in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare
, Zimbabwe following independence in 1980) received her secondary education at school in Kutama, between 1979 and 1984. She obtained a Diploma in Fine Arts at the BAT Workshop School of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe
from 1985–1986 and in 1986 she married the Zimbabwean sculptor Fabian Madamombe, with whom she later had seven children. Initially, she specialized in drawing and painting but in 1987 she went to help her husband in his sculpting at Chapungu Sculpture Park
where she started stone carving. Colleen became close friends with fellow female sculptor, Agnes Nyanhongo
, and rapidly developed her own style of sculpting in the three years she stayed full-time at Chapungu. While some of her early work was inspired by observation of ants, bees, butterflies and caterpillars, Colleen became best known for her depiction of women and their Shona
culture. She illustrated many themes of womanhood: women at work, harvesting, carrying water or children and giving birth. Her short, stout female figures quickly became a symbol of womanhood in Zimbabwe and were adopted by the Zimbabwean International Film Festival
as the trophy award for all winning women entrants. She won the award “Best Female Artist of Zimbabwe” three times.
Colleen worked predominantly in Springstone (a local type of hard serpentine rock much used by Zimbabwean sculptors), but also used Opal stone (a softer variety of serpentine), for example for her major work “The Birth”, now part of the Chapungu permanent collection. She used both rough and polished stone in her sculpture, often leaving parts of the surface of the stone in its raw oxidised form to provide colour for hair or clothes, while creating expressive faces, arms and hands in the fully polished black stone. Skirts would sometimes be chiselled to a rough grey surface, while other clothing such as a blouse was stippled to a finer texture. The overall effect and subject-matter was instantly recognisable.
Many of Colleen’s works were exhibited and sold outside Zimbabwe. For example, they were included in travelling exhibitions of the work of Chapungu artists which were shown in Botanical Gardens in the UK and US. The catalogue “Chapungu: Culture and Legend – A Culture in Stone” for the exhibition at Kew Gardens in 2000 depicts Colleen’s sculptures “Growing Well” (a mother and baby in Springstone, 1997) on p. 28-29 and “Dancing Woman” (Opal Stone, 1993) on p. 64-65. Works in that exhibition included almost all the well-known “first-generation” of Zimbabwean sculptors, for example Joram Mariga
, Henry Munyaradzi
and Bernard Takawira
. In this context, Colleen is usually described as being of the “second generation” but the terms are imprecise, as discussed by Celia Winter-Irving
. In 2004, Colleen and Fabian Madamobe's sculpture was included in an exhibition at the Botanical Garden in Berlin
. The catalogue illustrates her life-sized works “Playing Ball” and “Mother's Care”.
Through determination and aptitude Colleen won world acclaim. She died on May 31, 2009 and is buried near her rural home in Zvimba.
An exhibition about her life and works was held at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in March 2010.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an sculptor.
Colleen Madamombe, born in 1964 in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, Zimbabwe following independence in 1980) received her secondary education at school in Kutama, between 1979 and 1984. She obtained a Diploma in Fine Arts at the BAT Workshop School of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe
National Gallery of Zimbabwe
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is a gallery in Harare, Zimbabwe, dedicated to the presentation and conservation of Zimbabwe’s contemporary art and visual heritage...
from 1985–1986 and in 1986 she married the Zimbabwean sculptor Fabian Madamombe, with whom she later had seven children. Initially, she specialized in drawing and painting but in 1987 she went to help her husband in his sculpting at Chapungu Sculpture Park
Chapungu Sculpture Park
The Chapungu Sculpture Park is a sculpture park in Msasa, Harare, Zimbabwe, which displays the work of Zimbabwean stone sculptors. Its was founded in 1970 by Roy Guthrie, who was instrumental in promoting the work of its sculptors worldwide...
where she started stone carving. Colleen became close friends with fellow female sculptor, Agnes Nyanhongo
Agnes Nyanhongo
Agnes Nyanhongo is a Zimbabwean sculptor. Together with Colleen Madamombe, she is regarded as the most successful female Zimbabwean stone sculptor....
, and rapidly developed her own style of sculpting in the three years she stayed full-time at Chapungu. While some of her early work was inspired by observation of ants, bees, butterflies and caterpillars, Colleen became best known for her depiction of women and their Shona
Shona people
Shona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
culture. She illustrated many themes of womanhood: women at work, harvesting, carrying water or children and giving birth. Her short, stout female figures quickly became a symbol of womanhood in Zimbabwe and were adopted by the Zimbabwean International Film Festival
Zimbabwe International Film Festival
The Zimbabwe International Film Festival is an annual ten day film festival held in Zimbabwe in August or September. It is a non-profit organisation. The festival is a non-political competitive platform that provides a showcase of feature films, documentary films and short films, as well as...
as the trophy award for all winning women entrants. She won the award “Best Female Artist of Zimbabwe” three times.
Colleen worked predominantly in Springstone (a local type of hard serpentine rock much used by Zimbabwean sculptors), but also used Opal stone (a softer variety of serpentine), for example for her major work “The Birth”, now part of the Chapungu permanent collection. She used both rough and polished stone in her sculpture, often leaving parts of the surface of the stone in its raw oxidised form to provide colour for hair or clothes, while creating expressive faces, arms and hands in the fully polished black stone. Skirts would sometimes be chiselled to a rough grey surface, while other clothing such as a blouse was stippled to a finer texture. The overall effect and subject-matter was instantly recognisable.
Many of Colleen’s works were exhibited and sold outside Zimbabwe. For example, they were included in travelling exhibitions of the work of Chapungu artists which were shown in Botanical Gardens in the UK and US. The catalogue “Chapungu: Culture and Legend – A Culture in Stone” for the exhibition at Kew Gardens in 2000 depicts Colleen’s sculptures “Growing Well” (a mother and baby in Springstone, 1997) on p. 28-29 and “Dancing Woman” (Opal Stone, 1993) on p. 64-65. Works in that exhibition included almost all the well-known “first-generation” of Zimbabwean sculptors, for example Joram Mariga
Joram Mariga
Joram Mariga has been called the “Father of Zimbabwean Sculpture” because of his influence on the local artistic community starting in the 1950s and continuing until his death in 2000...
, Henry Munyaradzi
Henry Munyaradzi
Henry Munyaradzi was a Zimbabwean sculptor. The sculptural movement of which he was part is usually referred to as "Shona sculpture" , although some of its recognised members are not ethnically Shona. He worked initially at the Tengenenge Sculpture Community, 150 km north of Harare near...
and Bernard Takawira
Bernard Takawira
Bernard Takawira was a Zimbabwean sculptor, the younger brother of John Takawira.Takawira was born in the mountainous Nyanga district, third of six children. Their father was often absent for work, and their mother, Mai, assumed a dominant role...
. In this context, Colleen is usually described as being of the “second generation” but the terms are imprecise, as discussed by Celia Winter-Irving
Celia Winter-Irving
Celia Winter-Irving , was an Australian artist and art critic who wrote extensively about the Art of Zimbabwe, especially Shona sculpture, when she lived in Harare from 1987-2008 .-Early life:...
. In 2004, Colleen and Fabian Madamobe's sculpture was included in an exhibition at the Botanical Garden in Berlin
Botanical Garden in Berlin
Botanical Garden in Berlin is considered one of the most important gardens in the world, with area of 43 hectares and around 22,000 different plant species.The garden is located in the Dahlem neighborhood of the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf...
. The catalogue illustrates her life-sized works “Playing Ball” and “Mother's Care”.
Through determination and aptitude Colleen won world acclaim. She died on May 31, 2009 and is buried near her rural home in Zvimba.
An exhibition about her life and works was held at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in March 2010.