Felix continues his father’s skills to provide for his family
Felix Chinyani shows his artistic side with beautiful sculptures made from the knowledge he learned from his father.
As you meander along Kingfisher Drive in Fourways, you can’t help but be fascinated by the eye-catching sculptures decorating the corner of Alexander Road just after Fourways High School.
These majestic creations are the work of Felix Chinyani, who made Fourways his home after moving to South Africa from Zimbabwe in 2003. To this day, Chinyani still credits his father for showing him the ropes so that he can provide for his family.
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His artworks beautifully portray his deep affection for both animals and people. He said he uses different materials to show off his creative side.
“I did not go to school to make these sculptures. I was inspired by my father, so I saw him making them every day and at times I would help him till I fell in love with what he did. I started getting ideas of what I can set myself apart from what he does.”
He gestured towards the life-sized human sculpture of a woman and said it took him approximately six to eight weeks to finish it. Despite the lengthy process, he said his passion for his work, is what drives him and emphasised that he doesn’t mind the time investment because he genuinely enjoys what he does.
For the past decade, the 40-year-old artist has been selling his sculptures by the roadside which was given to him by a kind-hearted dentist from Fourways. He offered Chinyani the opportunity to display and sell his artwork right outside the gate of his dental practice.
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Chinyani said it came at the right time because he was looking all over for a place to show off his art.
“He gave me this space to display my art because I was looking after his property. He did it out of the goodness of his heart because I am not paying any cent. From there, the art pieces were selling like hotcakes.”
He said he does his art for both gardens and interior designs of which most of his clients, especially tourists, love it. He also turns trash into treasure for the benefit of the environment.
“It also depends on the clients – on where they want to place it because I made them so versatile that they are spoilt for choice. I also use recycled materials to make art, like an owl I made with only coffee cups. Not only is it good for the environment to be kept clean, it also beautifies our homes.”
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