WOOD SCULPTURE: DESIGNING AND MEANING

Wood sculpture is the art of making figures or designs in relief or the round by carving wood. Sculptors in Ghana in designing a piece do not design just for designing sake. They attach meaning to every design they make. Some of these designs have general meaning while others are peculiar to the sculptor or the client he is working for.

The most popular and common to sculptors in Ghana is the Adinkra symbols. The Adinkra symbols are common to wood sculptors in Ghana as it has a shared meaning. These symbols are very traditional and originates from Ghana precisely, the Ashanti region. Therefore, these symbols have become common designs for wood sculptors in Ghana since most Ghanaians can allude to it.

 This is an adinkra symbol called “Gye Nyame” which means except for God. This symbol have been designed on the )ware game. There are others like the “Fawohodie” which means freedom, emancipation, and independence. There is also the “Nyame Dua” which means tree of God and “Nea onnim no sua a, ohu” which means he who does not

know can know from learning.

There are other designs that are peculiar to the sculptor. Most wood sculptors in Ghana create certain designs that over time, becomes their signature. They create these designs and give them a meaning. Some designs are also created to suit the client. They design the sculptor to suit the meaning the client wants to attach to it.

Designing in wood sculpture is not done for the fun of it or just for the beautification. It is done to give meaning to the work.