Ahwiaa Wood Carving Industry: New Trends and Their Implication for Art Education
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Date
August, 2009
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Abstract
Asantes are noted for their expertise in variety of specialized visual arts such as wood carving. Ahwiaa wood carving industry has developed; though production techniques have remained stereotyped. Tools have greatly remained simple, materials the same, variations in form have not changed much and conventional treatment has not promoted creativity and originality, yet some new trends, new approaches are noticeable today. At present, globalization, trade, education, Islam and Christianity, changes in societal values and cultural practices, political and economic challenges, technology, knowledge explosion have generated new approaches to the Ahwiaa wood carving industry. Besides, no organized documentation has been done on the Ahwiaa wood carving industry, so that the researchers almost always have to rely on oral tradition to source information from wood carvers. Therefore, there is a need to study new trends in the wood carving industry at Ahwiaa. The researcher employed qualitative method of research to carry out the study. The data were collected using interviews and observation. The researcher found out that simple tools are made by the local blacksmiths. Tools are sharpened and maintained by oiling and storing after use. The main material is wood, formerly acquired by felling special trees from the forest. Today the log for carving is bought from Timber contractors. The carving of an item follows specific processes, according to tradition. Women were prevented from carving in the past. Today women are free to carve if they so wish. The researcher recommends that the departments of Sculpture and Integrated Rural Art and Industry at KNUST should organize workshops for carvers at Ahwiaa and introduce them to modern wood carving technologies. The two departments should further adopt Ahwiaa carving village and initiate new ideas in wood sculpture to them. The wood carvers should iv
acquire appropriate skills in proper seasoning of the wood for carving. This can be done in collaboration with the department of Sculpture College of Art, K.N.U.S.T and Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) at Fumesua, Kumasi. The wood carvers should encourage the youth to get involved in the carving trade. Since the future of the carving industry depends on the youth. The female youth should be encouraged to carve, so that both males and females will come together to rejuvenate the wood carving industry.
Description
A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of
MASTER OF ARTS IN ART EDUCATION ,