Wisdom of Two

Long and slender, the central figure of this extraordinary mask seems to speak, pronouncing words that are profound. His eyes exude wisdom. Flanked by four profiles, whose braided hair is clearly depicted, the mask is richly detailed in three dimensions. Eric Danquah sculpts the elegant figure of naturally dried sese wood and finishes the piece with black, dark tan, red and mansion polish. He names it Tsirkor Nko Agyuna, an Akan proverb meaning 'one head does not make a good decision' or 'two heads are better than one,' a belief held by the artisan's forefathers.

Danquah studied electronics at the insistence of his mother, but eventually returned to his first love - wood carving. The talented young man is aided by his younger siblings as he creates beautiful images of West African culture.