NOMADIC FAMILY BY BLESSING SANYANGA WAS AN AWARD WINNER
When I first photographed it, I didn't realise that each toe represented a person, and now I understand the title.
This award-winning piece, titled "Nomadic Family," is a clever visual pun carved in stone by Zimbabwean artist Blessing Sanyanga. From one side, the sculpture depicts a cowled family of five, but when viewed from the other side, a different interpretation emerges.
Blessing Sanyanga is a self-taught artist originally from Harare, Zimbabwe. He began stone sculpting as a child and later exhibited his work at the Cannon Peterson Art Centre in Harare, where he worked alongside over 180 fellow sculptors. In 2002, Blessing moved to Ireland and is now based in Cork city as part of the Backwater Artists Group. His talent has been recognised, and in 2014, his sculpture "Nomadic Family" earned him the New Ireland Assurance Sculpture Award at the Sculpture in Context exhibition.
The Backwater Artists Group is a well-established artist-led initiative located in Cork City. It provides a supportive environment for visual artists, offering studio spaces, exhibition opportunities, and resources for professional development. Their mission is to foster a thriving artistic community and promote the visual arts in the region.
This award-winning piece, titled "Nomadic Family," is a clever visual pun carved in stone by Zimbabwean artist Blessing Sanyanga. From one side, the sculpture depicts a cowled family of five, but when viewed from the other side, a different interpretation emerges.
Blessing Sanyanga is a self-taught artist originally from Harare, Zimbabwe. He began stone sculpting as a child and later exhibited his work at the Cannon Peterson Art Centre in Harare, where he worked alongside over 180 fellow sculptors. In 2002, Blessing moved to Ireland and is now based in Cork city as part of the Backwater Artists Group. His talent has been recognised, and in 2014, his sculpture "Nomadic Family" earned him the New Ireland Assurance Sculpture Award at the Sculpture in Context exhibition.
The Backwater Artists Group is a well-established artist-led initiative located in Cork City. It provides a supportive environment for visual artists, offering studio spaces, exhibition opportunities, and resources for professional development. Their mission is to foster a thriving artistic community and promote the visual arts in the region.
NOMADIC FAMILY BY BLESSING SANYANGA WAS AN AWARD WINNER