Colleen Madamombe was born in 1964 in Harare and is fast becomingan established figure amongst the Second Generation of Zimbabweanstone sculptors. She has won the award Best Female Artist of Zimbabweconsecutively over the past three years and is considered amongst thefinest new talents from this country.

 

The drive and hard - working determination prove so evident inColleen Madamombe's sculpture has ensured her own, very individualstyle and choice of subject matter. Most apparent in her work are thethemes of woman hood - from young girls, through pregnancy andmotherhood to the authority of the tribal Matriarch. These themesprovide continuing inspiration and she looks forward to portrayingfeminine experience through to old age. She is interested, not justin the emotional, spiritual side to a woman's life, but is alsofascinated by the basic physical appearance and movement peculiar toher sex. This aspect of womanhood she depicts with clarity andconviction, revealing pride, authority, energy, endeavour, sadness,tenderness, and often humour. Although a quiet and very privateperson, she has strong feelings about the changing role of women inZimbabwean society. She watches with misgivings as attitudes alter -whereas wider opportunities are developing for women, she feels thatthey are also losing their positions of traditional respect. In herview, it is still quite difficult for women to pursue a career in thearts - predominantly through an inherent lack of self-confidence butalso because the idea of following one's own ideas and ambitions, orpursuing a profession is still alien to many Zimbabwean women; "A lotof women are artists and just don't realise it - making pots andother things for the home, and not for sale."

 

In some of Colleen's early works, she gave importance to seeminglyinsignificant subjects such as ants, bees, butterflies andcaterpillars. Madamombe admits to a fascination with the apparenthumility of insects - a humility which she feels the human race haslost. Other creatures, such as the cat and the zebra have providedinteresting subject material, but this fascination with the smallestof living things has seems to have endured; " the way ants move inlines particularly. I love to watch their movement." With all thesesubjects, she watches as closely as possible, but finally carves froma strong mental image and the memories she holds of the animal,insect or person.

 

Madamombe works predominantly in hard black Springstone, oftenusing the outer blanket of the stone and creating many differenttextures to contrast with the polished surfaces. Her recent majorworks include; The Birth, Dancing Woman, Growing Well and My WeddingDay. Some of these works, especially The Birth have been consideredto be amongst the finest from Zimbabwe in recent years. Together withAgnes Nyanhongo, Colleen Madamombe's work is now on a world tourwhich includes Germany, Holland, England and the U.S.A . The firsttwo of these events in Germany have met with much criticalacclaim.