Shumba Ash is a self-taught artist, from Zimbabwe now residing in Edmonton Canada, who creates sculptures and 3-D objects using recycled materials (such as wood, spoons, wire, scrap metal and stone) which are transformed for the interaction of people or nature. Shumba’s intention is to captivate, delight and inform, often harkening back to childhood memories such as bugs, nature, sculptures reflecting on traditional stories and current influences.
Besides working on sculptures Shumba also does Photography and shares a unique blend of African influenced dance music (Afro-house, nu-jazz, Afro-Deep/Soul).
The artwork presented here is a collection of sculptures created over the past fifteen years. Ash uses a range of materials from soft soapstone to denser springstone. Ash’s work is heavily influenced by traditional Shona heritage and culture from Zimbabwe. His art conveys the Shona sculpture community’s belief that stone has a “life” and a message of its own. In following the natural lines of the stone, the artist’s original vision is changed by the material itself.
