CONTEMPORARY artist Johnson Zuze’s creations are inspired by the need to fight poaching and encourage conservation.
The artifacts are framed by snare wire given to him by various conservationist groups, discarded ceramic and non-degradable items.
“Wire is my main ingredient, I get it from friends in conservation, it comes all the way from Manicaland and Matabeleland North,” Zuze told NewsDay Life & Style.
“My wish is to make huge pieces, so that they will be placed at game park entrances, museums and other public places like traffic circles.”
The Chitungwiza-based artist has been doing mixed arts for nearly two decades.
“Imagine the amount of litter I picked over 16 years, I am contributing towards keeping the environment clean, documenting history and teaching through art,” Zuze said.
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“My plea is for responsible authorities to provide me with land, where I can do my work without disturbance.”
Some of his creations include elephants, buffaloes, tiger fish and lions.
Zuze was a prominent exhibitor at the now defunct Gallery Delta and currently he is with National Arts Gallery.
“I hope and pray that one day, I will be able to exhibit outside Africa, I have exhibited in South Africa and Mozambique before but it’s been a while now.
“My dream was shattered, when an art collector from Britain took my artifacts and said he would send an air-ticket but he failed to do so. Not only that, he also failed to pay for the artifacts.”
Zuze miniature artifacts will be on display, when exhibition starts this new season at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.