SCRAP metal has become a major media for artists who are utilising it come up with life-size pieces adorning various parts of the capital.
The scrap metal until now had a ready market in South Africa than Zimbabwe.
Parts of Harare, mostly shopping centres, are now adorned with gigantic pieces of art produced from scrap metal.
Newlands and Helensvalle and Trek filling stations are some of the places that have become ‘galleries’ of these pieces.
The pieces consist of giraffes, buffaloes and elephants among other animals.
The pieces are also popular among collectors who are buying them for their homes.
Practitioners said scrap metal was transforming their lives.
“The use of scrap metal has not only improved our livelihoods but has been beneficial to the environment as some of us go around picking these pieces of metal cleaning the environment by default,” said Tawanda Mandaza.
“We are now chief proponents of safeguarding the environment. The 4R concept- reduce, reuse, recycle and recover has been incorporated into our activities.”
James Batanai Suraji (51) operating from Chinembiri Crafts Centre in Mbare told The Patriot availability of scrap metal had led many artistes to abandon mediums such as wood and stone for metal.
“I became a metal artist in 1997 but from 1985 I had been using stone. The availability of scrap metal in large quantities and the idea of recycling it by turning it into beautiful art inspired me,” Suraji said.
“My family which is made up of artistes used wood but I took advantage of the large quantities of scrap metal and the fact that it has no limitations and I can create bigger art from it unlike stone.
Metal is obtained from things such as discarded DVD players, irons, fans and cars.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme some 20 to 50 million metric tonnes of electronic and electric waste is generated worldwide every year.
Suraji, said, he was also encouraging fellow artistes to use metal in their works and encouraged consumers to buy more metal works.
“While the market is low we are encouraging consumers of art to buy works made from metal. The art is not as expensive as people think. With the volumes of scrap metal we can create more of this type of art.”
He called on the corporate sector to support the artistes by commissioning works for their businesses.
“The corporate world is supportive of the soccer and music industry but not the arts industry. Support from the corporate world will ensure growth of the art form,” he said.
Another artiste Bauti Beaton said the medium had ensured the artistes survival.
“Scrap metal is readily available which reduces the cost of production. Working with metal is also faster than working with stone,” he said.
“With metal one does not have to travel far to get material because it is readily available either in people’s backyards or in industries that discard off-cuts. Returns from scrap metal have enabled me to earn a decent living,” said Beaton.
‘Our wish is to access the funds that we hear and read about, our industry is not being considered but it has vast potential to generate revenue for the country,” he said.
Chinembiri Crafts Centre is presently training various youths in metal craft.
At least 15 youths are receiving training at the centre.
“We are beginning to get value from our scrap that has in the past being exported and not benefited the country but outsiders,” said Beaton.