Destination Livingstone is celebrating the newly established ‘Forest of Faces’ public art installation in the city centre in an event at the Livingstone City Council park. This is an initiative that offers local artists an opportunity to be innovative and create the only installation of it’s kind in Zambia.
The initiative boasts 21 wooden sculptures that are 3-4-metre-high, hand carved by local artists to resemble a forest landscape, with each art piece telling a story. Every sculpture is a masterpiece in itself, an amazing spectacle when seen as a whole. As part of the project, 25 indigenous trees were planted at the homes of the artists.
“I selected the theme ‘the Brave Man’ because every man has to be strong for the sake of the family and I feel this theme is very important because it talks about how they should protect their family”, says Fredrick Mwansa.
When asked why he created the sculpture of ‘the Big Five’, Andrew Syamalenge explains, “I decided to select the theme of the Big Five for my sculpture because I enjoy carving the animals. I feel that it’s very important because it talks about the beautiful animals that we have in Zambia. I carve the Big Five because we should not kill them but make them on the sculpture”.
The Forest of Faces has been created as a visitor’s hub, and is the only sculpture park of this nature in Zambia. Situated in the Livingstone Civic Centre park, it will be an iconic feature that will attract more visitors and tourism interest into the city.
“I am the luckiest artist for my work to be erected at the Civic Centre garden to encourage the world and the next generation how important art is”, Kaiba Zyangwa, the artist who created ‘the African Woman’, proudly says.
Destination Livingstone, funded by Prospero Zambia, is proud to have initiated this project with local artists. “It was an honour to be involved with such experienced craftsmen, watching as they drew the designs and produced the final sculpture.” Rosie Mercer, Destination Livingstone Manager.
Event details:
- 26 May 2021
- Livingstone Civic Centre
- Time: 10:00 to 12:00 noon.
Ends
