David Obeng Adane (b. 1992)

Kwankyen Ade III

2023

Hand-carved stoneware with layered patinated finish

H 34 × W 21 cm

Kwankyen Ade III takes its title from an Akan proverb: “things worth possessing are not easily gained but acquired through effort.” The handbuilt vessel is the third in Adane’s series exploring this idea, drawing on the form of household storage pots that have anchored Akan domestic life across generations.

The surface is densely carved with geometric bands, Adinkra-derived symbols, and figurative motifs including faces and the heart, each carrying its own proverbial meaning within Akan visual culture. The motifs sit somewhere between ornament and language, articulating the theme of endurance that gives the series its name.

The layered patina recalls the grain of aged wood, blurring the line between ceramic surface and carved timber. This surface treatment has become a defining quality of Adane’s recent work and sits in conversation with the woodworking traditions of his region. The taller, more elongated profile of Kwankyen Ade III distinguishes it from earlier pieces in the series, allowing the carving to follow the vertical line of the vessel.

“That which is old often holds its own truth and wisdom.  By finishing my works in the manner of aged wood, I emphasise the essential nature of my traditional culture and its ancient and  continued significance today.”

— David Obeng Adane