The Contemporary Fine Art Gallery Eton: Artist Biography - PHANWEL CHAKUDA.

BORN IN 1953 IN NORTON GENERAL HOSPITAL HE IS THE THIRD BORN IN A FAMILY OF THREE BOYS AND ONE GIRL. HIS TOTEM IS NZOU SAMAYANGA ELEPHANT AND HE IS OF THE KOREKORE TRIBE. HIS PARENTS DIVORCED IN 1968 AND PHANUEL HAD TO STOP HIS SCHOOLING AS HIS MOTHER COULD NO LONGER AFFORD TO SEND HER CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. HER SOURCE OF SUBSISTENCE WAS SELLING FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND PHANUEL HAD TO HELP HIS MOTHER RUN THE BUSINESS. SADLY, SHE DIED IN 1969 AND PHANUELS ELDER BROTHER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAMILY. FORTUNATELY, BY 1974, HIS FINANCIAL POSITION BEING MORE SECURE, PHANUEL WAS ABLE TO EMBARK ON HIS ARTISTIC CAREER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF STEPHEN JASI, A WELL RESPECTED ANIMAL SCULPTOR. HE TAUGHT PHANUEL THE TECHNIQUES FOR SCULPTING ANIMALS, BIRDS AND HUMAN HEADS. HE WAS A STAR PUPIL, MAINLY BECAUSE HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN VERY KEEN ON FASHIONING ANIMALS OUT OF WOOD THROUGHOUT HIS CHILDHOOD. IN 1981, PHANUEL SET UP HIS OWN STUDIO JUST OUTSIDE HARARE WHERE HE STILL WORKS. HE HAS PIECES IN PRIVATE AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS IN HIS NATIVE COUNTRY AND ABROAD. HE IS VERY KEEN TO GIVE YOUNGER ARTISTS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT HE HAD TO MAKE A LIVING OUT OF THEIR ART AND IS THEREFORE TRAINING MANY TALENTED YOUNGSTERS IN HIS STUDIO.