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Renowned sculptor visits Hulsey Hall

Posted on Nov 17, 2009 in Features

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Sculptor Chido Johnson visited the Hulsey Recital Hall on Nov. 5th to give a lecture about his life and work.

Comfortably clad in a casual gray suit, matching canvas tennis and yellow knit cap resting comfortably on his head, Johnson presented his recent works via PowerPoint.

The son of a puppeteer, Johnson was born in Zimbabwe and educated in Amsterdam. He discussed areas of his life, such as childhood, his apprenticeship as a sculptor and how those elements of his life factor into his current work. Faces and figures, two of the most recognizable focuses of many African artworks, are prominent in Johnson’s work.

Johnson uses modern technology and world issues as inspiration for his works, and uses his sculptures as a platform to inspire dialogue about world issues and the human condition. For instance, he referenced Enzyte’s famous “Smilin’ Bob” ad campaign. One of his sculptures is a giant stone head with a wide grin frozen on his face.

The head, a tourist attraction in its home town, is reminiscent of an ancient Olmec sculpture.

Johnson’s gallery includes a grotesque wooden figure that faces a projector screen and watches a video of its own creation. Like the large stone head, a smile is stretched across its face as it watches his reflection being chiseled away at.

Always socially conscious, Johnson ensures that every aspect of his creations makes a statement. Even the Pepto-Bismol colored walls of his gallery reflect political and emotional thought processes.

Johnson’s existential consciousness continues to form his work and persona.

Though the term free spirit is perhaps over-used, it is a good way to describe the worldly Johnson, who sang a Zimbabwean song he remembered from childhood: “Ngai ndiri shiri,” meaning “If I was a bird”.

He also noted that the national bird of both his home country and the United States is a bald eagle. He takes the bird on as a partial representation of his personality. Indeed, it is an appropriate representation of such a unique artist.

Email: haouli87@uab.edu

 




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