Boniface Chikwenhere
Carving Works of Nature
Boniface is a Zimbabwean born sculptor / woodcarver / artist whose main medium is driftwood, found-wood and mineralised / petrified wood (in parts of Europe they call it bogwood). With these materials he can create unique, one of a kind, sculptures mainly in abstract form. His themes vary from wildlife, birds, marine, aquatic, animals and the human form.
He firmly believes that his work is not the creation of something new but the completion of something that nature would have carved during that piece of wood or tree's life time.
Unique Driftwood Creations
About Boniface Chikwenhere
His main responsibility is to connect with each specimen that he finds and try to bring out the hidden shape lying beneath the surface of the wood. The resulting works are polished or oiled depending with each species. This added final touch shows off the magnificence of the nature of the wood with its natural colours and grains.
Over the years Boniface has established a network of people all over Southern Africa that search for these hidden treasures. They are his suppliers and earn extra income through this means. Currently wood is used from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi and South Africa. No new wood strictly pieces that have been dead for decades, if not centuries. Each piece of wood is thoroughly cleaned, treated and / or fumigated before work commences.
Boniface exhibits his work both locally and nationally. Apart from supplying selected galleries and interior design shops in South Africa, Boniface also exports his work to galleries and private collectors all over the world. He is committed to improving his skills and knowledge through interaction with and networking with other peers. He aims to expose his work to a global audience and to share his skills and knowledge with his peers.
Boniface Chikwenhere is a member of SASA (South African Society of Artists). And has won several awards over the past years.