Translating Makerere University at 100 logo into wood carving

Abstract

Besides wood being used domestically, wood is also the primary material of many creatives coming from Africa forests. Aboriginal art, for example, relies on wood as one of its primary mediums for expression, while Middle East also has a great tradition of woodworking. Decorative purposes, religious or ritual reasons are some of the aspects that draw artists to use this material, but its use was in the colonial context also misinterpreted as the expression of folkloristic and generally primitive cultural levels of those who used it. While the Imperial Europe slowly relegated wood to the domain of decorative design, woodworking in other cultures was interpreted through narratives of folklore and tradition. Africa masks which later inspired Picasso and movements such as Fauvism and Expressionism were seen as ritual objects with little or no artistic value. Today, following the geopolitical and cultural changes from the second half of the 20th century and beyond, negative cultural implications of wood use in art are part of the history, and woodcarving and woodworking are equally respected, valued and practiced artistic techniques as any other. The fascination with wood and its quality seems to remain high, while artists continue to carve it into amazing art objects.