Stanley Mutanga, a top African sculptor, just arrived at Gunguo Art & History Farm in Glenburnie. Mutanga clinched Zimbabwe’s 2019 award for the top 3D artist, a remarkable achievement in a country known worldwide for sculpture. Over his three-decade career, some of his pieces made their way into Canadian collections. Says Mutanga: “My works which were sold in Canada many years ago, are now calling me to that country.”
Stanley has more than a dozen sculptures now on display at Gunguo. His favourite is a helical gemstone carving: “If you go around the sculpture you see some lines which go straight to the base, but some are cut short. That is what happens in life. Some people pass away when they are still young. Some manage to have children. Some even become grandparents. I was trying to say that life will continue, even if you are no longer around. So when you are alive, try to do everything to your best ability, so that people remember you. Never make the mistake of thinking that you will be here forever.”
Gunguo is about 7 minutes north of the 401. “Most visitors stay 2 hours or longer,” says Gillian Kupakuwana-Suk, who owns the sculpture farm with her husband William Suk and is also originally from Zimbabwe. Some guests take binoculars for birdwatching and others bring a picnic. The 1 km (and growing) sculpture trail meanders around a
200-year-old limestone farmhouse and has more than 100 sculptures on display. There is also a chic indoor gallery in a remarkably preserved century barn. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday but visitors must book a viewing in advance via the website (https://gunguo.art).
This may be Stanley’s first overseas trip, but he expects future travels. “I also sold sculptures to collectors in France, Belgium and the UK,” he says, “so maybe I will be going to Europe very soon.”
