11 Jul 2021

The saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure is validated by metal sculpture designer Martin Ndudzo’s life.  

Having been idle and weary of menial jobs, the 36-year-old thought of what else to do to make ends meet, then metal works crossed his mind. 

This could be stemming from the fact that metal scraps, metals cuts or anything metal can be found in our surroundings or dwellings.  

In an interview recently, the Gaborone-based metal sculptor said while most people still perceived metal shavings as waste, he saw a business opportunity in the world of arts, hence he settled to design metal sculptures.

He uses them to design sculptures of such creatures as birds, beetles, human beings and anything that customers called for.

Apart from seeing trade as something that could put food on the table, he saw it as another way of keeping a safe environment, especially that metal cuts can be harmful when not properly disposed of.

He started it in not so serious a manner, till art lovers who have been to Thapong Visual Arts Centre persuaded him to take the project seriously. 

Since taking that leap of faith, the creator never looked back as it butters his bread.

Ndudzo, now a fully registered member of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, said his business was relatively cheap to operate since the raw materials were metal cuts easily obtained from the scrap yards or from welding projects.

Experience acquired while doing piece jobs as an apprentice for welding and metal yards, came in handy in fabricating metal creations. 

He said being a member of Thapong Visual Arts Centre had been rewarding as he managed to secure a small space that he used as his workshop to execute his daily art works.

Additionally, he said operating from the centre also helped him gain momentum and the exposure, which he needed for the business growth.

 “As people frequent the centre for different purposes, some pass by to admire my works and end up purchasing some items, while others give me sound advices. 

Such interactions give me hope and the courage to keep working hard,” he said.

Such as other businesses, Ndudzo has not been spared from the challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He said since the advent of the pandemic, it was difficult for him to move across the country to sell his art works and market himself.

“The pandemic has also pushed me to the edge of allowing customers to negotiate prices to the lowest sale, an indication that they too have been hard hit. 

Whenever one is interested in purchasing my items I end up settling for the lowest price, I am now selling for survival,” he said.

Despite it all, Ndudzo hailed the assistance he received from Thapong Visual Arts Centre. 

He said the centre had become the market place during these trying times.

Ndudzo’s passion in arts emerged during his teen days fuelled by the regular visits made to the centre with his late father, Banabashe Ndudzo, a wood sculpture designer of his days.

“Every time when the schools closed in Zimbabwe I crossed the border to Botswana to spend time with my dad, who worked at the centre, and since there was no one to look after me while he was at work he always took me to his work place,” he said.    

Ndudzo said the lesson learnt from personal observations was that art creations just like other jobs was capable of creating jobs, a concept that gave him the zeal to pursue artrelated courses.

He said upon completion of his studies at National Gallery of Zimbabwe School of Arts, he relocated here to seek green pastures at the centre. ends