CHITUNGWIZA-BASED visual artist Joshua Chirume explores various characteristics of his totem animal, the elephant and engraves them into highly expressive and realistic fine art stone figurines.
A visit and conversation with Chirume at his Chitungwiza Arts Centre workplace and exhibition garden revealed that elephants, especially from the African savannah, are the largest land animals in the world, which can run and swim for long distances.
His carvings show many postures of elephant tusks in either browsing, grazing, debarking trees, walking, destroying and/or swimming positions.
There are three types of elephants, namely the African Savannah (Bush), African Forest and the Asian.
Chirume’s passion for carving elephants carries the day for someone who recognises World Elephant Day, celebrated annually on August 12.
Usually, the day is used to rally people to support organisations that are working to stop illegal poaching and trade of elephant ivory and other wildlife products, protect wild elephant habitat and provide sanctuaries and alternative habitats for domesticated elephants to live freely.
“This herd shows a family of elephants being led by its eldest member. The bull leads the family to grazing land and resting points, including protecting them from enemies,” Chirume said.
“Elephants can travel for a long distance and may even cross borders. They eat a lot and often destroy fields.”
- Chirume carvings implore elephants preservation
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Chirume carves most of his works on springstone and a captivating feature of his carvings is his attention to detail.
His elephant carvings try to impeccably recreate the jumbos’ hard bark skin.
The carvings also bring out why leather products from the jumbos are quite expensive on the market.
Despite their hard skin, elephants fear bees and can sprint away from them, creating an interesting sight and ambience as they scurry to safety.
In case someone happens to be in their way, they should be careful of a stampede.
Surprisingly, the huge animals cannot jump.
Some day, they may result in avalanches as land subsides each time they try to create their paths on the edges of mountains.
“Given more efficient technologies and reliable power supplies, I strongly feel that I can produce more creations of the elephants and their interesting stories. These carvings help children to develop a desire to visit nearby game parks one day in the future,” Chirume said.
“In addition to that, these carvings, when they are taken into homes or offices for decoration, complement other decorations to beautify the place.
“Elephants are preserved because they create economies through trophy hunting competitions. Also, their meat and leather are equally expensive on the market. They are a good national investment because elephants can live up to 60 years if well taken care of.”
An elephants is one of the easily remembered animals of the Big Five, a list which also includes lions, rhinos, buffalos and leopards.
During commemorations to mark World Elephants Day sometime back, organised by the American embassy Public Affairs section, it was revealed that close to 90% of African elephants were killed by poachers and trophy hunters.
The gathering resolved that children should be taught at infancy how to preserve natural resources and the wildlife that is around them.
It is estimated that Africa now only has about 415 000 elephants.
Chirume who, started carving in 2000, was taught by his brother Josiah Edmore Chirume.
He has also tried to carve groups of elephants or elephant families on hard stones like cobalt, opal, butter, jade and lapidolite, among others.
