Shona Sculpture by F. Mor (1987, Paperback) Zimbabwe Stone Africa

Description: Mor, F. (1987). Shona Sculpture. Harare, Jongwe Printing and Publishing Co. Shona Sculpture is a modern movement of stone-carved sculpture created in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa. It gets its name from the ‘Shona’ people, who are the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe. The movement first gained international exposure in the 1950s. Frank McEwen, the first curator of the new National Gallery in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe), played a significant role in promoting this art form. He encouraged artists to express their ‘tribal subconsciousness’ through their art, with much of the early work inspired by Shona mythology. The book opens with a preface by the then president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe. The book, written by an Italian ambassador and a noted humanist writer and poet, provides an introduction on the Shona people and their sculptural tradition. It discussed the uniqueness of their style, the role of the artists, and provides an interesting evaluation of its place in modern art.The book is illustrated by 100 color images and identify each work by its artist and title. [from the book flaps] Is there something new in contemporary sculpture? The author, during several years in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) as Italian Ambassador, has taken the opportunity to make a thorough study of a singular artistic phenomenon of great interest: the recent genesis of a local stone sculpture, completely different from the well-known traditional African sculpture. Over the past few years, it has attracted the attention of journalists from the world’s most important capitals. African sculpture inspired many of the protagonists of the renewal of the figurative arts in Europe at the beginning of this century. To day ‘Shona’ sculpture, which originated from the ethnic group of the same name, seems indirectly to receive the spirit of the reawakening of ours — including it in the most authentic cultural marriage. The present publication illustrates this singular process. The history of art, more than of influences, is woven out of mysterious messages, and the true works live outside chronology: they belong to the history of humankind. Qualified inter national observers consider the ‘phenomenon’ of Shona sculpture to be one of the most interesting plastic events since the Second World War. This book aims to give to it an illustration and an orientation, in order to stimulate the interest of the critics and the public abroad for whom this work was specially written. F. Mor was born in Genoa in 1921. After classical studies, he graduated in law in 1944. An officer during the war and later in the Resistance (1944-45), he received many war decorations. In 1950 he became a barrister. After five years of post-war involvement in politics, he entered the diplomatic service in 1951. F. Mor’s humanistic leanings have led to a lifelong involvement, both professional and private, with the arts. At times writing under pseudonyms, he has been a freelance journalist both in Italy and other countries. He has written many newspaper and review articles, and is also the author of a philosophical essay on the aesthetics of Benedetto Croce and of two volumes of poetry, selections from which have been published in various languages. His poems have been included in several anthologies. He has given hundreds of lectures in different languages on literary and artistic topics, including some lectures in Harare on Shona sculpture. In particular, he has written essays on the figurative arts and a volume on the sculptor Pericle Fazzini (published by Sansoni, 1970) and has himself been an amateur sculptor. He lives in Rome (Largo dell’Olgiata, 15). : In addition to the numerous honours conferred on F. Mor by Italy and other countries. France has awarded him the 'Legion of Honour' and the 'Order of Letters and Arts’. Check out my other listings of African, Oceanic, Native American art and art history, and other regions of world art and cultures for additional rare finds. I will be adding more titles on Zimbabwean sculpture shortly.

Price: 19.99 USD

Location: Boone, North Carolina

End Time: 2024-11-08T12:56:36.000Z

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