How to feel and touch Tanzania in Artisan Craft

MWANDALE MWANYEKWA  is one of Tanzania's best wood carvers. Her carvings show the feelings that she has for people, animals, cultural beliefs, relationships and the environment in which they live.  Today she adds some spices to our delicious dish about 'Tanzania Authentic Wonder .' She will take us through the feelings and believes of Tanzanians. Experience love, nature, faith, entertainment, responsibility to mention a few, please welcome and share this African Cake.

                                        

SELF PORTRAIT: LIFE SIZE

Artist: MWANDALE MWANYEKWA
Piece Name: Self Portrait - Life Size
Date Made: 2006
Material: Female Mpingo (Ebony) Wood
Place: Bagamoyo (Tanzania)
Size: (132 x 27) cm
Price: Private Collection


Idea & Description:
In realistic art, an artist is supposed to make art just as he or she sees it not as one knows it. Because as an artist myself, I cannot make myself as I know but can only make myself as I see either in portrait or picture. And that was why I had someone else to make my face in clay before carving. Eventually after the clay portrayal, I would make a cement casting before I actually carve in wood.

Then, I would make a miniature trial but the life size as a practise is just to see if I can actually create a direct exactness.

MAMA NA MTOTO

Name Artist: MWANDALE MWANYEKWA
Piece Name: Mama Na Mtoto (‘mother and baby’)
Date Made: 2000
Material: Female Mkuruti Wood
Place: Bagamoyo (Tanzania)
Size: Length 9 cm. & Height 11.2 cm.
Price: Private Collection

Idea & Description:
As a woman and mother to be, I always think that children deserve the close attention of both parents, especially that of the mothers! That is why I put a symbol of the breast because that is the first centre of attention for the baby.

PASSION

Artist: MWANDALE MWANYEKWA
Piece Name: Passion
Date Made: 2005
Material: Male Mpingo (Ebony) Wood
Place: Bagamoyo (Tanzania)
Size: (46 x 21 x 15) cm
Price: US$ 1000

Idea & Description
You don’t have to be masculine to be a sculptor. It’s all about creativity, passion, and a positive mind. When you end up doing that job that the Most High has destined you to do you will never stop smiling, and one-day morning when your work is all over somebody will look back at what you did and he/she will say, “Passion kept her moving”.

ENVIOUS MONKEY

Artist: MWANDALE MWANYEKWA
Piece Name: Envious Monkey
Date Made: 2008
Material: Female Mpingo Wood (Ebony)
Place: Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
Size: (52 x 18 x 20) cm
Price: Private Collection

Idea & Description

There was this funny monkey, which used to love only male human beings and hate women at the Bagamoyo Sculpture School. We used to call it “Jealous Monkey”.

Whenever it saw female students chatting with male students it used to be very violent. It became even more problematic since our school had more male students than female ones. This made me believe that animals have the same feelings as human beings.

Get to know MWANDALE MWANYEKWA HERE AND SEE MORE OF THIS: http://www.mwandale.blogspot.com/

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