Zimbabwe

^{Posted on Tuesday 18th March, 2008}

Dominic Benhura takes over Tengenenge directorship
^{By Martin Chemhere, Harare}

^{The future of stone sculpture in Zimbabwe is poised to reach new and international levels of growth with the appointment of Dominic Benhura to lead the world acclaimed Tengenenge Sculpture Center - founded by the legendary Tom Blomfield in the early 1960s.}

^{Dominic Benhura, Zimababwe’s award winning and internationally renowned sculptor was already heading Tengenenge's operations as its director at a time when stone art is becoming well known in many parts of the world.}

^{Benhura will pick up from where Blomfield left and has a mandate to further influence the growth and quality of the community's already known great works on the international market. The sculpture centre was briefly run by Blomfield’s son, Stephen, until recently.}

^{However, Benhura will be in charge of the leadership of this unique art centre for an unspecified term.}

^{The soft spoken and successful sculptor, was recently presented as the new head of the sculpture centre to the arts community and was given a resounding welcome at a ceremony held in Guruve`s farming area where the art centre is located. An accomplished artist who has over the years been winning awards and hearts of collectors and art critics with ease from around the globe, Benhura will be tasked with championing the goals of Tengenenge using his wide experience and influence as an artist and cultural ambassador.}

^{The sculptor who has won countless achievement and competition awards in his more than 20 years in the sculpture industry will certainly enjoy his new posting at one of the country's best established sculpture centres.}

^{Tengenenge is among the biggest and most influential success stories in the Zimbabwean visual art industry. Its history dates back to the late 1950s when Tom Blomfield and his workers, mainly black Africans, abandoned working in the then surrounding tobacco farms in exchange for artistic experimentation and indulged in the newly set up sculpture centre.}

^{Benhura has already begun to work with leading artists from the centre such as the award winning Victor Fire, whose work is emerging from a foundation laid by master sculptors such as the late Bernard Matemera, among others. The recent development, while giving a new lease of life to the Tengenenge Art Centre, will certainly please the founding artists of TAC – like Makina Kemeya, Wazi Maikolo to name a few, to know that the place they helped to set up, grow and raise to an international profile from humble beginnings is continuing under proven and trusted leadership.}

^{Benhura needs no introduction and is seen by many as a surprise but right choice to lead Tengenenge into the new and emerging markets of international stone sculpture art. Probably the most decorated stone sculptor living in Zimbabwe today, Benhura has the credentials and reputation to take Tengenenge to new heights in the world of contemporary sculpture.}

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