Meet SaToro!
SaToro Tafura’s stone sculpture has received international acclaim and he has been recognized as one of the most promising stone sculptors of his generation. Tafura harnesses his unique artistic sensibility to speak to and listen to stone, resulting in distinctly powerful stone sculptures that transcend time and geographical space. Tafura’s stone sculpture affirms the values and wisdom of Shona culture and reflects themes that resonate universally. Tafura is the first Zimbabwean to cast his one-of-a-kind stone sculpture in bronze on a large scale. Tafura is based in Longmont, Colorado and enjoys returning to Zimbabwe each year, where he sculpts alongside his mother, renown stone sculptor, Agnes Nyanhongo. Tafura recently completed a 11.5 ton stone sculpture, a private commission, in South Denver. He’s also in the process of producing his first documentary film, delving into the complex origins of stone sculpture in Zimbabwe.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
The best piece of advice I’ve received is not from a particular person, but is a sentiment I’ve come across over and over that really resonates with me. “Know thyself” reminds me that despite all the distractions in life, there’s value in prioritizing things that help us know ourselves deeply. I’m not the same person I was even 5 or 10 years ago and as an artist, if I’m disconnected from my deep purpose in life or what I really value, my art is going to reflect that disconnect. When I think about what it means to know myself, I think about staying grounded in my culture, despite living in the U.S. That can be a huge challenge but I’m committed to learning more about my culture and finding relevance in my life today.
What are you working on right now?
I’ve been doing a lot of research on the origins of stone sculpture in Zimbabwe, and have been working on a documentary film that explores the connections to previous creative forms and also outside influences from colonization. I grew up with a widely accepted narrative that stone sculpture is a “traditional” art form, and then started piecing together information that caused me to question that and interrogate it further. It’s pretty uncomfortable to let go of a narrative that has been so closely tied to your professional work and a legacy within your family, but it’s incredibly important to me that I’m actively part of Zimbabweans and other Africans telling our history. My grandfather was known as one of the “first generation” stone sculptors in Zimbabwe. A few years ago, I started to think more about this label and the relationship to this so-called “traditional art form.” My grandfather started sculpting stone in the 50s, so how could he possible be one of the first stone sculptors if this was indeed part of our cultural roots? I had an opportunity to interview him before he passed away, and I was able to gather information about how he was introduced to stone sculpting, the connection to European art curators, and the relationship to his father’s craft as a blacksmith.
What do you like to do outside of work?
When the weather in Colorado is warm enough, I am in my garden as much as possible. This is one of the most basic ways I can connect with what is familiar to me, when living in such a different environment. Growing up in a village in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, we relied on subsistence farming. As a young boy, I herded cattle, created sculptures/toys out of clay from the land, tended the fields and vegetable gardens, and fetched firewood for my grandmothers. Some families had specific jobs for boys and others for girls, but my grandfather believed we should learn how to do everything, so I also cooked on the fire in our traditional kitchen as a young boy. Our connection to the land goes beyond meeting our basic needs, and is also related to our spiritual beliefs. These things created a strong connection to our natural world, and I try to maintain that connection through my gardening. Last summer I grew gourds and showed my two young kids which type we used for cups, bowls, and instruments.
What was the best day at work you've had in the past three months?
Last fall I completed a monumental stone sculpture, which was a commission, and the largest sculpture I’ve ever created. A couple months ago, I returned to visit the sculpture in south Denver and was surprised at how much it communicated to me, and how connected I was to the message I was able to tell through the stone. I got this commission when my daughter was born and she’s turning 5 years old this month! Most commissions don’t take nearly this long, but the stone was 16 tons when it was quarried, so you can imagine that it required a tremendous amount of time and effort just to acquire the raw stone and start sculpting. I returned twice to Zimbabwe during the quarrying process, and started the initial “sketching” process on the stone at my mother’s studio in Harare. After shipping it to Denver, I continued the work for a couple years until it was completed. It was an enriching process, and I enjoyed connecting with many people who regularly passed by as I was sculpting the piece on-site. I created some interactive elements with people sharing their reactions to the piece.
If you had a choice between two superpowers, being invisible or flying, which would you choose?
Being far away from home in Zimbabwe, I think it’s obvious what I’d choose. Airfare is expensive!
Get in touch with SaToro
Instagram: @satoro_tafura
Website: https://satorotafura.com
Email: satoro@satorotafura.com
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