Sculptor displays heritage centrepieces

A SCULPTURE of Mahatma Gandhi by Lungelo Gumede was among the centrepieces at the eThekwini Municipality’s My City, My Heritage campaign, launched to mark Heritage Month at uShaka Marine World on Friday.

Gumede, 36, of Westville, graduated with a diploma in fine arts from the Durban University of Technology (DUT). In 2007, he opened his studio at Durban’s Bat Centre and the same year created his first sculpture of Obed Mlaba, a former eThekwini mayor.

Over the years Gumede has been commissioned to do paintings, sculptures and wax and bronze statues. He has held exhibitions around the country.

He said the 1.5m sculpture of Gandhi was completed in 2018. It was part of his heritage collection of statues which includes Nelson Mandela, King Goodwill Zwelithini, Jacob Zuma and TD Jakes, an American bishop and author.

Gumede said he enjoyed learning about the past and where he came from.

“My uncle, Khayelihle Mbatha, was a wood sculptor and painter. I used to learn from him and I became more experienced after studying at DUT. I then went to Madame Tussauds in New York where I learnt the art of waxing.

“The process of sculpting is fascinating. We start with seating, whereby we take as many pictures as we can of the client or the person we are sculpting. From there, we make the head separately out of clay and cast it with wax. We make the body separately out of a mannequin and then make the hands and feet.

“Lastly, we join everything together and dress them up. This is how we get the final statue."

Gumede has completed more than 100 sculptures and paintings. He said his artwork featured at the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, The Pearls Mall, Gateway Theatre of Shopping, and the Nelson Mandela Museum. In 2019, he won the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Leadership Award, just one of many honours he has picked up.

The talented sculptor boasts Oprah Winfrey, American singer, John Legend and President Cyril Ramaphosa among his customers.

“I draw inspiration from individuals who bring about change in our communities. I get inspired by people who do more to change the lives of the masses of people locally and around the world. My role model is Nelson Mandela.”