From the Shell of Creation
Medium
PaintingMaterial
Oil PaintDescription
From the Shell of Creation explores a central idea in African, especially Zimbabwean, thought: life is not merely born but released and guided by community. Keith Zenda’s giant broken eggshell symbolizes origins, echoing creation stories where existence emerges from a cosmic source. In Shona culture, birth marks the start of a spiritual journey shaped by ancestors, family, and shared identity.
The Little People spilling from the shell embody innocence, discovery, and the early stages of humanity. Their playful interactions reflect hunhu/ubuntu—the belief that a person becomes a person through others. Unity, support, and curiosity define their movement.
The open landscape behind them represents life’s vast possibilities. Zenda’s simple forms emphasize connection over individuality, making the work a meditation on belonging, shared origins, and the African understanding that creation is collective and filled with hope.Try it!
