Land of Stone: A Group Exhibition

“Land of Stone” is a celebration of Zimbabwean artistry—rooted in tradition, evolving through abstraction, and reimagined in print. Bringing together three distinct voices—Shona Sculpture, Simon Back, and Charmaine Chanakira—this exhibition explores the many textures of Zimbabwean creativity, from the timeless weight of stone to the fluidity of contemporary expression.

Stone as Legacy
At the heart of the exhibition stands Shona Sculpture, a globally renowned art form carved from Zimbabwe’s abundant stone—serpentine, opal, and springstone. These works, shaped by hand with patience and intuition, embody spiritual depth, ancestral wisdom, and a connection to nature. The tradition of Shona stone carving is an ever-evolving dialogue between the past and present, where raw material is transformed into poetic form.

Stone as Abstraction
Through his original abstract paintings, Simon Back deconstructs landscapes, memories, and emotions into colour and texture. His work, often inspired by Zimbabwe’s shifting horizons and organic patterns, moves away from literal representation and instead channels a visceral, almost musical interpretation of place. His process, layering and eroding paint much like nature sculpts the land, draws a compelling parallel to the chiselled surfaces of Shona sculpture.

Stone as Memory
In contrast, Charmaine Chanakira translates history, culture, and identity into intricate printworks that blur the lines between past and present. Her practice interrogates themes of migration, heritage, and belonging, often incorporating archival imagery, patterns, and text into dynamic compositions. Her prints act as visual records—like etchings on stone—marking moments of movement, resistance, and transformation.

Land of Stone is a convergence of material and metaphor—a space where Zimbabwe’s artistic legacy is honoured, reshaped, and reinterpreted. From solid forms to fluid gestures, from ancient techniques to digital printmaking, this exhibition captures the enduring creativity of a land defined by its artistry.