Intriguing Sculpture of a Disheartened Female Figure - Possible Ben Macala (1938-1997) Sculpture Heavy 4.8kg 25cm High Stone-Resin or Bronze-Resin   

ON AUCTION IS AN ARTWORK THAT INTRIGUES. A SITTING SOMEWHAT CONTORTED FEMALE FIGURE IN A SAD DISHEARTENED POSE. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLY A BEN MACALA (1938-1997) SCULPTURE.
 
THIS SCULPTURE FEELS VERY HEAVY FOR ITS SIZE (4.8KG) AND APPEARS TO BE MADE OF A RESIN / STONE OR RESIN / BRONZE MIX.
 
ALTHOUGH UNSIGNED I THINK IT IS A BEN MACALA SCULPTURE. His sculpted work is recognizable. His sculptures are abstract and dark mostly of contorted (large heads, elongated hands) figures in sad or bondage sitting poses. Most of his work tend to focus on females, female heads and mother-and-child studies. PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF.
 
DIMENSIONS: 20CM SQUARE BASE 25CM HIGH
WEIGHT 4.8KG
 
CONDITION: FEW SCRAPES TO SCULPTURE. PLEASE SEE PHOTO.
 
MARKINGS: NOT SIGNED. I HAVE ADDED TWO PHOTOS FOUND ONLINE OF CONFIRMED MACALA SCULPTURES. BOTH ARE OF SIMILAR FIGURES. TWO HAVE SIMILAR WOODEN BASES. ONE IS ALSO UNSIGNED. PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF.
 
BEN MACALA (1938-1997):
Ben Macala was born on April 21, 1938, in Bloemfontein, South Africa and was an important 20th-century South African artist. Working primarily in sculptures and drawing of figures, urban life and some abstract pieces. Initially, Macala worked as a sculptor but later focused on mixed-media pictorial work. He worked in various mediums: oil, pencil, pastel, charcoal, terracotta, clay, bronze and stone. Ben Exhibited in South Africa, Germany, Greece, New York.
His work is very recognizable. His paintings focuses on Picasso-like portraits of large faces with huge dark eyes. His sculptures are abstract and dark mostly of contorted (large heads, elongated hands) figures in sad or bondage sitting poses. Most of his work tend to focus on females, female heads and mother-and-child studies. Later on he began presenting these faces in group compositions.
Macala is remembered for his pioneering historical importance, as he went on to be one of the few black South African artists whose work was exhibited during the Apartheid era. Macalas career as an artist began in 1965. Although he was self-taught he had trained under Cecil Skotnes at the Jubilee Art Centre in 1964, and in 1965 worked with, and received guidance from, Ephraim Ngatane. In 1966 he was studying under Bill Ainslie for a short period. Most of his works are pastel/crayon studies of people with the aim to show the dignity and tranquillity of his subjects and the importance of the animal world.
His latter works before his death tend to be more refined and also decorative, compared to many of his earlier works. He died in 1997 in Soweto, South Africa.
 
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