An Island of Beauty.

There are some people on this planet who go about their business quietly.

Vincent Chizawari is one of these creatures. He moves with quiet grace. His hands do a slow, steady dance, moving here and there as if they know what to do without the person behind them intervening in any way. Miracles appear from these hands, the raw material is his dance partner, sharing the unheard rhythms to cooperate in creating beauty.

Entering a large general store in Port Elizabeth, one does not expect to be confronted with a little section of heaven. One expects the usual clash and clamour of shopping trolleys, the irritable crowds and the unattractive shelves and banners of the typical supermarket. If those are present, they go unnoticed.

Mr Chizawari is the centre of  his island of beauty  on the left of the entrance to one of South Africas'  major supermarket chains - Pick n Pay, in the Walmer Park shopping centre in Port Elizabeth.

He creates a feast for the eyes like this:

And miniature versions like this:

I have spent most of the last 6 years unemployed and very partially employed, dealing with trauma and sheer desperation.  I found myself a few years ago standing in front of his sea of flowers, relishing the serenity, the delicacy of colours and textures and the sheer exuberance of the beauty of the blossoms and their harmonious constructions.

I now take every possible opportunity to seek the restoration of my soul, there, at Mr Chizawari's creations.  His work is a wonderful example of heart in action, of a job that his talent and heart has made into a service to humanity. Thank you Mr Chizawari.