York's Shona Gallery presents "Shy Girl" by Zimbabwean artist Silas Manyore. Manyore captures a single quiet moment. The girl's head is bowed and turned inward, and her face is tucked beneath a sweep of finely grooved hair that curves over her like a shield. Below, her body rises in one long, unbroken line that narrows at the waist and softens at the hip. Her posture says everything the title does: reserved, gentle and turned toward herself.
At 19" tall, the piece is hand carved from a single piece of serpentine stone. This stone is found in abundance in Zimbabwe and is known for its range of colors. Here it is a deep plum, flecked throughout with green and gold.
The surface is polished to a rich luster, which brings out the natural flecking of the serpentine and gives the piece a glow that shifts with the light. "Shy Girl" is suitable for indoor and outdoor environments and does not tarnish or deteriorate in rain or snow.
As a work by an artist who is no longer living, "Shy Girl" is a rare opportunity to own an original Manyore.
