Locardia Ndandarika

Locardia Ndandarika (1945 – 5 January 2023), was a Zimbabwean sculptor.A native of Bindura, as a young girl Ndandarika made models in clay using traditional methods. In 1964. she married Joseph Ndandarika, divorcing him in 1978. During their marriage she learned more about sculpture, and later turned to it full-time. In 1986 she became a member of the Workshop Gallery; she was also invited to work at the Chapungu Sculpture Park. Quotes As you know I was married to Joseph Ndandarika, the famous artist. He didn’t like me touching his tools. CREATING ART FROM NATURE’S RAW MATERIALS – MEET LOCARDIA NDANDARIKA, THE MOTHER OF STONE SCULPTURE He told me, I didn’t marry you for doing such things, I want you to look after my children.” CREATING ART FROM NATURE’S RAW MATERIALS – MEET LOCARDIA NDANDARIKA, THE MOTHER OF STONE SCULPTURE I asked him to give me some small pieces of stones so that I could also practice making sculptures. He obliged. I went on to dig a hole in the middle of my maize field where I hid the stones from Joseph. CREATING ART FROM NATURE’S RAW MATERIALS – MEET LOCARDIA NDANDARIKA, THE MOTHER OF STONE SCULPTURE One day my husband left home for Marondera to attend an artist’s workshop. I told myself this was my chance to work on my pieces. I called four boys to wash the pieces for me. After a few minutes Joseph came back unexpectedly. He was shocked when he saw me working on the pieces. He asked me who the owner of the pieces was and I told him they were mine. I felt I was not supposed to hide them. He was hurt, he was jealousy. He then took my pieces and sold them and he did not give me any money. I was not worried when he took the money he got from selling my pieces. I told myself I owed Joseph for teaching me sculpting and the money he took was his payment. CREATING ART FROM NATURE’S RAW MATERIALS – MEET LOCARDIA NDANDARIKA, THE MOTHER OF STONE SCULPTURE Joseph suggested I should revert to making clay pieces and he even accompanied me on my trip to look for the right clay for moulding. I would take my clay pieces to the National Arts Gallery for exhibition but he still would go there to collect my money and spend it. I then queried the authorities at the art gallery why they were giving him my money without my permission. I demanded all the money they owed me and they gave me. CREATING ART FROM NATURE’S RAW MATERIALS – MEET LOCARDIA NDANDARIKA, THE MOTHER OF STONE SCULPTURE “I am like a teacher to the kids. My students can have the same writing with mine; I see no problem with that. If something good can come out of these youngsters copying my work, if they can change a piece’s eyes and make them appear different from those on mine, then let them do it. I am sure sculpting helps keep youths away from mischief and other juvenile delinquencies. I am not a Christian but I sympathise with these kids. They don’t know how to master the art of sculpting, so if they can learn through copying it is still good by me, no problem. CREATING ART FROM NATURE’S RAW MATERIALS – MEET LOCARDIA NDANDARIKA, THE MOTHER OF STONE SCULPTURE People should not despair under difficult circumstances but should soldier on. Patience pays a great deal. CREATING ART FROM NATURE’S RAW MATERIALS – MEET LOCARDIA NDANDARIKA, THE MOTHER OF STONE SCULPTURE Sculpture is not just stone, it is language that speaks to the mind. The stone and I communicate. The stone tells me what to create. If I force it, it will break CREATING ART FROM NATURE’S RAW MATERIALS – MEET LOCARDIA NDANDARIKA, THE MOTHER OF STONE SCULPTURE External links Category:Women artists Category:Sculptors from Zimbabwe Category:Women from Zimbabwe Category:1945 births Category:2023 deaths Category:Women born in the 1940s