David Obeng Adane (b. 1992)

Kwankyen Ade II

2024

Hand-carved stoneware with layered patinated finish

H 38 × W 25 cm

Kwankyen Ade II takes its title from an Akan proverb: “Things worth possessing are not easily gained but acquired through effort.” The handbuilt vessel is the second 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 broad diagonal lines that divide the body into angular sections. Each symbol carries its own proverbial meaning within Akan visual culture, and the diagonal composition gives the piece a stronger sense of movement than the other works in the series.

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. Kwankyen Ade II has a tapered, pear-shaped profile that narrows toward the base, giving the carved surface a compressed intensity as the patterns converge downward.

“My practice seeks to bridge past and present, drawing on indigenous knowledge and technique while shaping forms that reflect my own identity. Each mark is deliberate, whether conscious or instinctive, contributing to a larger story.”

— David Obeng Adane