Widus Mtshali

Widus Mtshali is a sculptor of animals, birds and angel mobiles. He was born in Nqwanase – near the Mangusi area- in Kwa-Zulu Natal. He is married with 5 daughters.

As a young boy he looked after his father`s cattle as a herd boy, until the age of twenty, when he went to work on a sugarcane farm in Empangeni, Kwa-Zulu Natal. On retirement he returned to his home in Ngwanase where he became friends with his neighbour Timothy Mlambo.

Timothy is a highly skilled woodcarver who taught Widus to carve as well as special techniques such as burning designs into the sculptures as decoration.

Widus uses an indigenous wood called Mpengende, which he and his wife collect in the bush surrounding his home. It is on these trips that he observes wild animals as an inspiration for his sculptures. Although he studies books, he relies on his imagination to create humorous and whimsical sculptures.

Widus` work has been shown in The African Art Centre, 2002, in a Group Exhibition.It was also shown in 2003 and 2004`s Vita Craft Now, under `Animals and other creatures` at Spiers Wine Estate, where he became a Silver Award Winner.

Information courtesy of www.afriart.org.za