Choloka depicts love in sculpture

Standard Style
Chitungwiza Arts Centre sculptor Isaac Choloka’s extraordinary sculptures are considered to be some of the highlights of modern art.

Chitungwiza Arts Centre sculptor Isaac Choloka’s extraordinary sculptures are considered to be some of the highlights of modern art.

By Staff Reporter

Choloka

The artist combines chisel skills with his imagination, exploring social issues, especially love.

“Sculpting is not about age, size weight or height. It is about the effort one puts in making the final product,” Choloka told The Standard Style on Friday.

“My main subjects are human figures, whose premise is symbolical of embedded love and feelings and I got early inspiration from veteran sculptor Lazarus Takawira.”

Born in 1979 in the farming town of Chegutu, Choloka is regarded as one of the finest stone artists in Zimbabwe and his sculptures are among the most collectable in the country today.

Choloka ventured into arts when he made a name for himself drawing contemporary cartoons while in high school in Chegutu.

“My passion for stone carving was ignited when I met my brother Wengai Chilenga, an artist in Chitungwiza,” he said.

“After my apprenticeship under the tutelage of Takawira, I made a global footprint in the sculpture world through magnificent and original sculptures.”

The artist, who desires to capacitate and train young artists, curves sculptures of any magnitude from different kinds of stones, even though he favours spring stone.

“Love is something that everybody can relate to. And love comes in ways that we can easily overlook in our daily lives. So, I try to find the meaning of love in our daily lives and make it into artwork,” he said.

“To me, stone carving is a medium to draw and paint my ideas and to convey messages, which are essential in day-to-day living of human beings.

“Each piece has its own history and theme that compliment it. This unique arrangement of art captures a lot of interest to people. Most of my work unites people from different communities of life and races. Many of my creations communicate love, give thanks and show victory.”

Choloka has exhibited at local, regional and international expos, a feat matched by a handful of sculptors in the country. He has showcased his works at the Hanover Travel Expo (Germany), Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Tour of Private Collection (Virginia, United States), the Private Exhibitions (United States), the New Gallery Opening Symbols in Stone (Germany) and the Weaa.Org. Exhibition at Morgan State University (Baltimore, US).

Locally, he participated at the Creativity and Originality and Tenth Anniversary Exhibition at Chitungwiza Arts Centre; Zimbabwe International Travel Expo, Chitungwiza Industrial and Travel Expo and the National Arts Merit Awards.

He said the exhibitions moulded him into one of the finest sculptors in the country.

“I still want to participate in these local and international exhibitions and expose myself to the big market. I also want to participate and conduct local and international workshops, at the same time capacitating and training young artists,” he said.

Choloka paid tribute to his customers whom he said have motivated him.

“My customers feel secure in business because I value their ideas. I treat them with love, care and serious extra caution. Both young and old, they are my customers and deserve respect and honour as well,” he said.

To strengthen his business acumen, Choloka has acquired business and administration qualifications.